Key road reopens to landslide-hit Hebei village

Rescue efforts made critical strides on Tuesday afternoon as emergency crews reopened a key road to a landslide-stricken village in Chengde, Hebei province. However, heavy rainfall continues to challenge relief efforts.

Local authorities confirmed that County Road 516, the only route into Mayingzi Manchu township in Luanping county, was restored after two days of intensive work. The road provides access to Nantaizi Xigou village, where a landslide buried homes and left residents trapped on Monday.

Eight people are confirmed dead and four remain missing, officials said on Tuesday. Initial reports had cited four fatalities and eight missing.

The restored road has allowed rescue teams, equipment, and supplies to finally reach the disaster zone, which had previously been accessible only on foot. Rescuers had been forced to trek over 10 kilometers to reach affected areas.

According to an earlier report by China Central Television, rescue operations faced mounting challenges as heavy rainfall hampered efforts to reach the village.

Renewed rainfall late on Monday further elevated water levels in the Chaohe River and its tributaries, complicating relief work, according to the report, which cited damaged roads and unstable communications as critical obstacles for relief work.

Signals remain intermittent despite emergency communication vehicles on site, the report said, adding that drone footage captured before nightfall on Monday revealed extensive devastation, with some village structures reduced to single standing walls.