THE death toll in a rain-triggered mudslide in the suburbs of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, has risen to 21, with six others still missing, rescuers said Sunday. According to the Xi’an municipal emergency management department, the torrential rainfall Friday caused the mudslide accident in a village on the outskirts of Chang’an District. Fourteen rescue forces comprising more than 980 people were continuing the search and rescue. They have brought equipment, such as life detectors, satellite phones and excavators. They said the rock and mudslide damaged two residential houses, roads, power supply and communication facilities. While evacuating 186 people, the rescuers repaired the damaged roads and infrastructure facilities to resume traffic, power supply and communication services. Meanwhile, three people were killed and two were injured when a house collapsed during rainstorm in Hengyang, Hunan Province, China Daily reported yesterday. Strong wind caused a vacant house where seven people were taking shelter from rain to fall down in Leyu Village on Sunday afternoon, according to the county’s publicity department. Measures have been taken to limit flooding in Tianjin and the northeastern provinces of Liao-ning, Jilin and Heilongjiang after Typhoon Khanun made landfall in Liaoning on Friday, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Sunday. As the coming days may see further risks such as strong winds and heavy rain in certain areas, authorities are closely monitoring the situation. The downstream river channels in the Haihe River Basin and the main stream of the Songhua River continue to maintain high water levels, increasing the risk of dangerous situations due to prolonged water exposure, the ministry said. (SD-Xinhua) | 