Mudslide in SW China's Wenchuan kills 15 people

CHENGDU, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The massive mudslide that hit Wenchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Saturday had killed 15 people and injured nine others by Monday, local authorities said Tuesday.

Wenchuan County was the epicenter of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake that jolted Sichuan and other neighboring provinces in west China in May 2008. The quake left some 87,000 people dead or missing.

The county, which falls under the jurisdiction of Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, was ravaged by rain-triggered floods and mudslides Saturday.

At least 31 people were reported missing following the mudslide, but whether the 15 deaths were included was not known, according to a statement issued by the county government of Wenchuan.

More than 50,000 residents and tourists were forced to evacuate in Aba as the local meteorological station issued warnings beginning Friday about expected heavy rains and possible geological disasters.

More at: [link to news.xinhuanet.com]