Downpour could cause further landslides

A relentless downpour is threatening to trigger more landslides and made rescue work nearly impossible in the remote north-western China region where hundreds died in massive slides triggered by weekend flooding.

Heavy rains are forecast for flood-ravaged Gansu province in the coming days - up to 3.5 inches is expected today – and the National Weather Centre said the threat of more landslides along the Bailong River was “relatively large”.

Tents set up as emergency shelters were flooded, and traumatised victims said the ongoing storms were a frightening reminder of the deluge that brought on Sunday’s disaster.

Hundreds of homes were completely buried, and the death toll was 1,117 as of late Wednesday.