Oil pipe in NW China damaged by mudslide

（Xinhua）  19:00, July 15, 2013  

XI'AN, July 15 (Xinhua) -- A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in northwest China's Shaanxi Province damaged an underground oil pipeline Monday morning, causing oil to leak into a nearby river.

The pipeline, operated by Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Company, cracked at around 4 a.m. due to the severe impact of the landslide. Oil leaked through the crack and flowed into a nearby river that flows into the Yellow River in north China.

Rescue teams have built six protective dams in the river, with three more to be added to stop the spill from flowing downstream, according to Wang Haiqing, an official with the publicity department of Zichang County.

Measures are being taken to trap leaked oil, the official said.

Local villagers are helping with the cleaning effort by removing oil-tainted waterweeds from the river, Wang added.

Heavy downpours have swept a large swath of Shaanxi Province since last week, killing 27 people as of 8 a.m. Monday, according to the Department of Civil Affairs in Shaanxi.