云南地震灾区遭遇泥石流

In neighboring Yunnan province, Yiliang County has suffered heavy rain as it struggles to recover from Friday’s earthquake. Record amounts of rain triggered mudslides on Monday night and hundreds of trapped people have had to be rescued. Nearly 5,000 have had to leave their homes.

Mudslides, heavy rain, flooded streets, all add to Yiliang’s misery after the earthquake.

The rain started at midnight on Monday. The swollen river flooded neighboring streets, trapping residents in their homes. The county hospital filled with people injured by the earthquake was also surrounded by water.

The soil underneath the road has been washed away. It’s empty, quite dangerous.

As the river overflowed, water rose knee-high on the streets, and many residential buildings were flooded at ground-level. Residents were trapped in upper floors until they were rescued by firefighters.

2,700 people have been moved to a temporary camp with tents on wooden boards to keep them out of the water.

The rain is expected to continue for at least two days in Yiliang. The mountainous county was struck by twin earthquakes last Friday that claimed 81 lives and injured more than 800. About 10,000 people have joined rescue and relief efforts.