Emergency response underway after geological hazards detected

Geological hazards including mountain cracks, surface subsidence, property damage, and unexplained underground noises have sparked safety concerns among residents of Yantang Village in Qujing, Yunnan Province. These hidden and unpredictable dangers, compounded by the incident zone spanning two administrative districts and complex mining rights, have posed significant challenges to investigation and mitigation efforts.

Local authorities responded swiftly, mobilizing multiple departments and dispatching technical experts to conduct on-site inspections upon receiving the villagers' reports. They worked proactively to assess the scale of the hazards and analyze risk patterns, demonstrating a commitment to addressing public concerns with efficiency and diligence.

The emergency response prioritizes life safety while balancing livelihood protection and risk control. Authorities have quickly cordoned off the danger zone with barriers and installed warning signs, while maintaining regular patrols and dynamic monitoring to prevent accidents and safeguard lives. Simultaneously, they are conducting precise assessments of damage to homes, roads, and farmland, processing compensation claims in accordance with regulations, and ensuring the smooth relocation and care of affected residents.

Given the cross-regional and complex nature of the geological issues, officials are handling the matter with rigor and responsibility, advancing cause verification, hazard monitoring, and compensation procedures without evasion or negligence. Continuous monitoring and dynamic risk assessment remain ongoing, reflecting the authorities' commitment to protecting the community and securing the safety of lives and property.

Resident reports land subsidence and underground noises

On September 15, a villager surnamed Li from Yantang Village, Enhong Village Committee, Dongshan Town, Qilin District, reported to reporters that visible cracks had appeared on a nearby mountain, with the fissures progressively widening over time. Li noted that several villagers had previously heard loud underground noises, describing them as powerful enough to make doors shake, which he feared could signal geological danger.

Li submitted a formal report to the authorities, urging for professional on-site assessments to safeguard the community. The Office Director of the Qilin District Natural Resources Bureau confirmed that the cracked mountain area lies at the junction of Enhong Village in Dongshan Town, Qilin District, and Fuyuan County. Upon receiving the alert, the bureau promptly organized energy sector experts and technical teams for field inspections, discovering varying degrees of damage to houses, roads, farmland, and crops, with compensation proceedings initiated according to applicable standards.

The bureau noted that the exact cause of the cracking and potential future risks are still pending expert determination. For now, the hazardous zone has been fully enclosed with barriers and marked with warning signs to keep villagers at a safe distance, while authorities continue intensified patrols and monitoring efforts to track surface changes and assess risks in real time.

Land subsidence spans nearly seven mu, with unsettling sounds

Li explained that Yantang Village sits at the base of a mountain on the left side. About a month ago, land subsidence and slope slippage began appearing, prompting him to inspect the area and discover cracks on a mountain to the right of the main village road. By September 14, the fissures had enlarged dramatically, with stones dropped into the cracks taking roughly five seconds to hit bottom.

He described the cracks as running from the summit down to the base, spanning several interconnected mountains, and expressed concerns that a major landslide could occur if the danger worsens. With only around 40 households in the village near the affected slopes, Li noted that some villagers had already found cracks in their walls, and his own home showed similar damage while roughly six to seven mu of farmland had subsided.

He explained that the terraced terrain means upper sections slide when lower ground collapses, making farming unsafe. Additionally, villagers had reported hearing loud, explosive-like noises from beneath their homes, strong enough to rattle doors, though no such sounds had occurred recently. Photographs provided by Li also revealed cracks in the ground along the main village road.

Historical mining impact documents and current verification

Li mentioned that a coal mine is located approximately 1.5 kilometers from the village, and as early as 2021, two houses at the village entrance began cracking. An official document from that time attributed the damage to mining disturbances, leading Li to suspect that recent cracks in village homes and the mountainside may also stem from mining operations.

He shared a printed copy of a July 2021 notice issued by the Qujing Natural Resources and Planning Bureau, addressed to the Qilin District Natural Resources Bureau, concerning temporary emergency evacuation measures for households threatened by geological hazards in Yantang Village. The notice indicated that expert investigations conducted on June 2, 2021 found that wall cracks and damage to hard-surfaced yards and farmland affecting two households with 14 people were primarily caused by mining from the Jiada Coal Mine in Mohong Town, Fuyuan County, with urgent evacuation measures recommended to prevent further deterioration.

When contacted on September 15, a staff member at the Qujing Natural Resources and Planning Bureau stated that the specific document could not be retrieved from their system, but confirmed the existence of another notice urging the Qilin District bureau to investigate and report on the geological hazard causes in Yantang Village.

Officials confirm relocation and ongoing monitoring

A signboard photographed by Li indicated that the coal mine in question is operated by Yunnan Wantian Group Jiada Coal Industry Co., Ltd., under the jurisdiction of Mohong Town, Fuyuan County. The mine was established in April 2004 and passed acceptance inspections in 2008.

On September 15, the Mineral Management Section of the Fuyuan County Natural Resources Bureau informed reporters that on-site inspections following the villagers' reports found no evidence of illegal cross-border mining by Jiada Coal Mine, with results submitted to higher authorities and communicated to the villager by phone. The section head noted that the mine's legal mining rights fall under Fuyuan County, with mining areas distributed across both Fuyuan County and Qilin District, including near Yantang Village. Since the cracked mountain lies within Qilin District, the cause requires investigation by the relevant Qilin District authorities.

The Qilin District Natural Resources Bureau Office Director confirmed that two households affected by subsidence have been safely relocated and properly accommodated. One additional household has not signed a compensation agreement as they do not meet the eligibility criteria, while other compensation payments have been largely completed. Regarding the mountain cracking, the director stated that only the damaged locations can currently be confirmed, with the cause and potential future risks pending expert assessment.

Authorities have fully enclosed the danger zone with barriers, posted warning signs, and assigned grid monitors for routine surveillance. The Qilin District Natural Resources Bureau will maintain close monitoring of surface changes, continuously evaluate risks, and immediately activate emergency response procedures to evacuate residents should any danger emerge.