WUHAN, July 9 (Xinhua) -- One person has been confirmed dead while seven others are still missing after a landslide hit a highway construction site in central China's Hubei Province on Saturday, local authorities said Sunday.
Rescue teams have identified the location of another person, who was previously reported missing, and are currently carrying out a rescue operation, Ye Yang, executive deputy mayor of Yichang, said at a press conference.
Another five people were reported injured in the landslide, Ye said, adding that the missing people are all construction workers.
The landslide struck the construction site in Yueshan Village, Tujia Autonomous County of Wufeng in Yichang City, at around 4 p.m. Saturday.
More than 390 rescue workers are conducting search operations at the site.
A total of 17 nearby local residents have been evacuated to safe places after the accident.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has activated a level-four emergency response to geological disasters and sent a working group to the site to guide emergency handling.
It urged guiding and supporting local search and rescue operations, making every effort to treat the injured and reduce casualties, preventing secondary disasters, and ensuring the safety of rescuers.
Efforts should also be made to identify the causes, strengthen risk monitoring and investigation, and ensure the safety and protection of people's lives and property, said the ministry. ■
