Landslide in Southwest China caused by rain-softened slope, not mining: report

CHENGDU -- Continuous rainfall-induced infiltration that softened mudstone on a high-steep slope caused a landslide in Southwest China's Sichuan province, and no direct link has been found between mining activities and the disaster, according to an investigation report released on Saturday.

The report, published by the provincial department of natural resources, identified the disaster in Jinping village of Junlian county, under the city of Yibin, as a compound natural disaster involving a sudden high-position landslide that evolved into a long-distance debris flow.

The landslide occurred at 11:50 am on Feb 8, 2025, leaving 10 people dead, 19 missing and two injured, with direct economic losses exceeding 6 million yuan (about $862,193).