英语新闻报道：四川茂县山体垮塌 141人失踪

英语新闻报道：四川茂县山体垮塌 141人失踪

中国西南部新磨村突发山体高位垮塌，141人失踪，46户家庭被埋。当地当局已经证实了这一消息。搜救行动正在进行中，500多搜救人员正在展开搜救。

· 141 people missing, 46 homes buried after landslide hit Xinmo village in SW China

· Over 500 rescuers deployed as search and rescue operation underway

· president Xi calls for 'all-out' rescue efforts 

Updated at 1:00 p.m. BJT

Local authorities have confirmed that 141 people are missing after the massive landslide.

A family of three escaped the mountain of debris, and were sent to the Maoxian People′s Hospital.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said rescue workers should do all they can to reach people buried by the landslip and minimize casualties.

Updated at 11:58 a.m. BJT

‍China's land and resources ministry has upgraded its response measures to level-II, the second highest on a four-tier system against geologic disasters, following the landslide. A group of experts has been sent to the scene.

No rescues have been made by 11:26 a.m. local time, however Wang Yongbo, a member of the rescue team, said signs of life have been detected under the debris.

Some rescuers were evacuated as over fears of a second earthfall. Machines still kept working, Wang added.

Updated at 11:00 a.m. BJT

The landslide struck Xinmo village of Diexi town, in Maoxian County, local authorities have said.

The area was one of the hardest hit during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.

Most houses in Xinmo village are masonry buildings that were rebuilt after the devastating tremor in 2008, according to Wang Yongbo, from the rescue team on site.

Where is Maoxian County?

Maoxian County is located in the southeastern part of the Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba in Sichuan Province, southwest China, on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau.

In 1933, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake jolted the town, leaving over 1,000 people dead. A barrier lake was formed after the earthquake, and has been regarded as one of the largest quake relics.

Updated at 10:20 a.m. BJT

‍China's land and resources ministry has activated level-III emergency response measures in a four-tier system against geologic disasters following landslides in Sichuan.

Local authorities said 18 rescuers were sent to the scene immediately after an alarm received at 6:15 a.m. local time.

The Sichuan Fire department has dispatched over 500 people to the scene for further rescue work.

Updated at 9: 40 a.m. BJT

Over 100 people were buried after a landslide triggered by torrential rain hit Maoxian County, southwest China's Sichuan Province on Saturday morning.

The incident took place at around 6:00 a.m. local time and at least 100 people from 40 households are feared to have been trapped.

Local authorities have activated level-I emergency response procedures, the highest of a four-tier system, following the landslide.

The full extent of the debris flow is yet to be determined.

Search and rescue operations are underway.