Thirty-five people have been confirmed dead following a landslide which struck a village in the Kunlun Mountains of western Xinjiang Province early in the morning of Wednesday 6 July 2016. The incident, which happened in Yecheng County, has been attributed to heavy rains this month, which have caused widespread flooding and washed away several roads in the area. Landslides
are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water
pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to
flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by
heavy rainfall.
Reascue workers at the site of the 6 July 2016 Yecheng County landslide. Wiebo/CRI English.
Western Xinjiang has an arid climate, typically receiving less than 65 mm of rain per year. However like other desert areas occasional outbreaks of heavy rain do occur, and when this happens flash flooding is a serious problem, as protracted periods of dry weather can cause topsoil to dry out
completely, making it vulnerable to being blown away by the wind. When
rain does arrive it then falls on exposed bedrock, which is much less
absorbent, triggering flash flooding as the water escapes over the
surface of the ground rather than sinking into it. These floods wash
away more topsoil, making the problem progressively worse over time.
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