Yunnan, China—A massive landslide triggered by days of heavy rainfall has claimed the lives of seven villagers in a remote part of Yunnan province. The disaster occurred early Thursday morning when a saturated hillside gave way, sending thousands of tons of mud and rock cascading into the village below. Several homes were buried in the initial collapse.

Local emergency response teams, supported by the military and regional fire departments, launched a search and rescue mission shortly after the disaster. The scale of the debris made movement difficult, requiring the use of excavators to clear paths for search dogs and medical personnel. Seven bodies were recovered during the initial sweep of the area.

Continuous rain has hampered efforts to secure the perimeter, as officials warn of further landslides in the vicinity. The village has been evacuated, with residents moved to a temporary facility in the nearest town. Many survivors lost their homes and personal belongings in the sudden destruction.

This event follows a period of extreme weather in southwestern China, where high precipitation levels have saturated the terrain. Local authorities had issued an early warning for geological hazards, but the sheer volume of the slide caught many residents off-guard in their sleep.

The Yunnan provincial government has provided emergency relief funds to support the displaced families and assist with the long-term rebuilding efforts. Specialized geological teams are now on-site to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the hillside’s stability and determine if other areas in the province are at similar risk.

Survivors are currently being treated for trauma and minor injuries at a nearby clinic. Community leaders have praised the first responders for their rapid action in what remains a dangerous environment. No one else is reported missing at this time, though the search for survivors continues as a precaution.

The site of the disaster will remain off-limits to civilians for the foreseeable future. A total of fifty families have been relocated as the government evaluates the safety of the entire valley.