UNITED NATIONS, July 29 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has extended his condolences to the families of those killed in Tuesday's landslide in southwest China's Guizhou Province, following heavy rains.
The secretary-general was "saddened by the loss of life and destruction of property caused by the landslides," Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for Guterres, said at the daily news briefing.
The death toll from the landslide has reportedly risen to 42 while nine were still missing.
The landslide lashed a village in Shuicheng County in the city of Liupanshui at 9:20 p.m. Tuesday last week, burying 21 houses. Rescue workers earlier raced against time to recover survivors while preventing secondary disasters.
In a statement issued Sunday, the UN chief commended the search and rescue operations being conducted by the government of China, as the rains continued to fall, and offered the assistance of the UN, if needed, to assist in these efforts.
Landslides are not uncommon in rural and mountainous parts of China, particularly after heavy rains. The country has experienced severe flooding this year.
