Precautionary relocation of Guizhou mountain villagers begins

Resettlement has begun in a village in Liupanshui city, Guizhou province, after concerning cracks were recently discovered on a mountainside near the settlement.

While local authorities said on Apr 11 that the slope near Pojiao village is now considered generally stable, Guizhou, a mountainous province, is prone to geological disasters during the rainy season. With the wet period approaching, sustained rainfall could sharply increase the risk of landslides and collapses.

Authorities said a small localized collapse occurred in the hazard zone on Jan 14, involving about 40 cubic meters of debris, with no casualties.

Engineers have filled and sealed the crack, while monitoring equipment has also been installed.

The site was added to the province's geological disaster hazard registry in 2019. Based on risk assessments by an expert team and an engineering company, authorities said relocation of residents would be completed as soon as possible.