Rescue operations in southwestern China intensified on Monday as emergency crews deployed explosives to blast through massive boulders blocking access to 34 people missing since a landslide struck the region three days ago.
The decision to use controlled detonations marks a significant escalation in the search effort, which had been hampered by the sheer weight and size of the debris field left by the torrential rains.
The landslide occurred during a period of severe weather that has battered parts of China, complicating logistics and endangering both victims and first responders.
Authorities have maintained a continuous presence at the site, but the dense rockfall created a barrier that conventional machinery could not penetrate, necessitating the use of explosives to create viable entry points for search teams.
This incident adds to a growing list of extreme weather events impacting the region.
Recent reports indicate that Typhoon Bavi has made landfall on Japan’s southern islands and is moving toward Taiwan, prompting heightened emergency protocols across East Asia.