14 killed, 3 hurt after landslide hits construction site

Fourteen people died as a landslide struck a hospital construction site on Monday evening in Bijie, Guizhou province, the city's information office announced on Tuesday.

The landslide, comprising an estimated 30,000 cubic meters of earth and 5,000 cu m of rock, hit the site of a branch of the Bijie's First People's Hospital at around 7 pm, trapping 17 people.

As of 2 pm on Tuesday, all 17 people had been found. Fourteen had died, and three were injured. The injured were hospitalized in stable condition.

Guizhou's fire and rescue department sent emergency personnel and equipment from Guiyang and Liupanshui to help with rescue efforts.

According to news website ThePaper.cn, the department sent 57 vehicles, 189 people, seven dogs, two life detectors, 16 excavators, two cranes and other personnel, vehicles and equipment to the scene of the rescue.

The Ministry of Emergency Management also sent staff to the scene to guide the rescue.

Through the coordination of emergency, fire, health, public security and other departments, more than 1,000 people participated in the rescue work.

Investigation into the cause of the landslide is underway.

Previous sources from the information office of Bijie's Jinhaihu New Area show that with an investment of 2 billion yuan ($313 million), the Jinhaihu Branch of Bijie's First People's Hospital will become the largest hospital in the city. It was expected to be put into operation at the end of last year.