Landslides in China kill 13, with three missing: state media

A series of landslides in eastern China have claimed the lives of 13 individuals, with three others still unaccounted for, according to state media. The incidents occurred following heavy rains triggered by Typhoon Saudel. A particularly devastating mudslide struck Mingkeng village in Jiangxi province on Saturday, resulting in 12 fatalities and one missing person, as reported by local officials to state news agency Xinhua.

Additional landslides in nearby Zuo an and Tanghu townships claimed one life and left two others missing. These landslides followed days of torrential rainfall brought about by Saudel, which first entered China's eastern coast towards the end of last month. In response to the heavy rains, several cities temporarily halted work, canceled school sessions, and suspended transport services.

The landslide in Mingkeng caused damage to homes and instability in roads, as per Xinhua. Over 170 rescuers were mobilized to the affected area to locate the missing individuals. The landslides follow devastating glacial floods in the Himalayas last month, which have left at least 43 people dead in Tibet, according to state media, and over 1,300 casualties across the border in Nepal.

Reports suggest that more than 5,000 individuals remain missing in Nepal, with another 519 reported missing on the Tibetan side of the border. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency of such disasters to climate change, which is accelerating glacial melting worldwide.