A sudden mudslide occurred in the early hours of September 19 near the Shijia Tunnel in Zhiliuhe Village, Gesala Township, Yanbian County, Panzhihua City, Sichuan Province. The event has prompted a swift multi-level emergency response from authorities.
In the wake of the disaster, the Geological Exploration Management Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources activated a Level IV geological disaster defense response. Concurrently, the Sichuan Provincial Geological Disaster Prevention and Control Headquarters initiated a Level III provincial emergency response for geological hazards.
The Sichuan Provincial Department of Natural Resources has coordinated with the natural resources authorities in Panzhihua City and Yanbian County, directing them to expedite emergency procedures. An expert working group has also been dispatched to the site to oversee the situation.
As of now, the local natural resources departments have mobilized a support team comprising seven vehicles, 30 technical specialists, and six sets of unmanned aerial vehicles to the disaster scene. These personnel are conducting emergency surveys, monitoring early warning signs, and checking for potential secondary hazards. Their immediate tasks include delineating danger zones, assisting with on-site crowd management, and providing crucial technical support to the ongoing rescue and disaster-relief operations.