2008 Shanxi mudslide

Infobox News event


caption=
date= start date|2008|09|08
time=08:00 CST
place=Xiangfen, Shanxi, China
casualties1=267 dead
casualties2=34 injuredThe 2008 Shanxi mudslide was caused by the collapse of an unlicensed mine landfill in Xiangfen county, Linfen, Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China and killed at least 267 people and injured 34.cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-09/24/content_10104822.htm |title=Mudslide Death Toll Rose to 267 |publisher=Xinhuanet | date=2008-09-24 |accessdate=2008-09-24|language=Chinese] Around 8:00 a.m. on September 8, 2008, the retaining wall of a waste iron ore reservoir collapsed after torrential rain, causing a major mudslide which inundated a village and crowded marketplace.cite news |first=Keith |last=Bradsher |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/12/asia/12mud.php |title=Death toll rises from mud flow in Chinese village |date=2008-09-12 |accessdate=2008-09-13 |publisher="International Herald Tribune"] The unlicensed Tashan Mine was operated by the Tashan Mining Company.

History

The ore reservoir was built in the 1980s, halfway up a mountain, about 50 meters above an office building, marketplace and some residences. It was built only 100 meters away from the nearest residence.cite news |url=http://www.china.org.cn/government/local_governments/2008-09/12/content_16438962.htm |title=Shanxi mudslide, accident of grave responsibility|date=2008-09-12 |accessdate=2008-09-13 |publisher=Xinhua News Agency via China Internet Information Center] The reservoir was supposedly decommissioned a few years later, but its new owner, Zhang Peiliang, put it back into use when he took over the company in 2005.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7611958.stm|title='Arrests' after China landslide |publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-09-13|date=2008-09-12] In 2006, the Tashan Mining Company did not renew its safety production license, and in 2007, the mining license of Zhang also expired. [cite news|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-09/12/content_7020697.htm|title=Search for mudslide victims on|last=Wang|first=Ru|coauthors=Wu Jiao|publisher=China Daily|date=2008-09-12|accessdate=2008-09-13]

Damages and casualties

The entire village of Yunhe was inundated by the mudslide, including an outdoor market crowded with customers. As of September 24, the Chinese state media reported that the death toll was 267, and the number of injuries 34. Only 128 bodies, mostly of locals, have been identified.cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/14/content_9981616.htm|title=North China mud-rock flow death toll rises to 254 |publisher=Xinhua|date=2008-09-13|accessdate=2008-09-13] Some 268,000 cubic meters of mudslide sludge flooded over an area of 30.2 hectares in the disaster,cite news |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/12/content_9950331.htm |title=China mud-rock flow death toll rises to 178 |date=2008-09-12 |accessdate=2008-09-13 |publisher=Xinhua News Agency] and the mud was up to six meters deep in some parts.

A worker had said "It's not because of the rain. It wasn't a natural disaster, it was man-made." [cite news |first=Tania |last=Branigan |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/10/china |title='Negligence, not rain' caused deadly China mudslide |date=2008-09-10 |accessdate=2008-09-13 |publisher="The Guardian"] Up to 500 people may still be buried, according to the Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.cite news|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjbo-8qN0dnLVf2T7vzrFe74B-Vw|title=56 dead after mudslide sweeps through Chinese town: state media|publisher=AFP|date=2008-09-10|accessdate=2008-09-13]

Rescue efforts

5,300 police and rescuers, using more than 110 excavators, were looking for survivors.cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=a_zCW1rY2550&refer=asia|title=Rescuers Dig for China Mudslide Survivors; 178 Confirmed Dead |last=Peng|first=James|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=2008-09-13|date=2008-09-13] The rescuers covered about 90% of the mudslide zone so far. [cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-35450220080912|title=Deathtoll from China mudslide climbs to 178|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-09-13|date=2008-09-12] In addition, 2,100 medical workers were at the site to provide medical care.

Aftermath

1,047 people are displaced because of the mudslide. The provincial level government says relatives of the dead will receive 200,000 yuan (US$ 29,215). The Communist Party chief, the head of Taosi township, work safety bureau director, and chief engineer in Xiangfen county were dismissed for neglect of duty. Thirteen mine executives, including Zhang Peiliang, were detained by Chinese authorities, and four other local officials were also dismissed.cite news|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122126637630130845.html?mod=googlenews_wsj|title=China Suspends Officials in Mine Disaster|last=Leow|first=Jason|publisher=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2008-09-13|date=2008-09-13] The State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) said that an investigation is pending, and that the people responsible will be "punished in line with the relevant laws." Wang Jun, the director of SAWS said, "It is the most grave accident that involves the largest death toll so far this year. The rising accidents disclose local governments' poor supervision on work safety. Those responsible must be dealt with seriously." [cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/11/content_9929807.htm|title=N China mud-rock flow death toll rises to 151|publisher=Chinaview|accessdate=2008-09-13|date=208-09-12] Meng Xuenong, Governor of Shanxi, resigned a day after the event, on September 14. [cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-09/14/content_9990462.htm|title=Meng Xuenong Resigns|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|date=2008-09-14|accessdate=2008-09-14|language=Chinese]

References