A landslide killed nine people and injured 10 others in Ankang City of Shanxi Province, northwest China, an official said Wednesday.
Four or five huge rocks, about 300 cubic meters in all, slipped from a mountain at Yihe Township in Langao County, killing nine quarry workers on the spot at 7:10 a.m. Tuesday, and injuring 10 others, four seriously.
The injured were immediately taken to the hospital by workers repairing a nearby highway.
He Quanjun, director of the Ankang City Highway Bureau, attributed the accident to poor geological conditions in the region and high rainfall this year.
Soon after the accident, the area was closed. Leading officialsof Langao County set up six teams to help in rescue, first-aid, road clearance and investigation of the accident.
By 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, two slightly injured persons had been discharged from hospital, and eight others were still being treated.