People attend a mourning ceremony held for the victims of a landslide in Shanyang County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 18, 2015. (Photo: Xinhua/Wang Shihua)
More than 700 people gathered at a school in Shaanxi Province, northwest China, on Tuesday to mourn victims of last week's landslide.
A landslide hit the living quarters of a local mining company and three rural homes in Shanyang County in the early hours of Aug. 12. Twelve people died, 10 escaped immediately and four were dug out by rescuers. Fifty-three are missing. Those missing included villagers, mine workers and their families, as well as construction workers.
At 10 a.m., relatives of the victims, county officials and rescuers paid a silent tribute at the school and left flowers for the victims.
Tuesday was the seventh day after the landslide. According to Chinese tradition, the seventh day after death is when the soul returns home. It is typically a day spent mourning.
During the past week, rescuers were searching using sniffer dogs and radar detectors. The huge volume of mud and rubble, combined with the risk of secondary disasters, has hindered the search. The work was suspended Tuesday due to torrential rain, but will resume as soon as conditions allow, according the rescue headquarters.
Zhao Fasuo, a geologist, said Shanyang county has over 500 established sites with risk of geological disasters, including landslides and mudslides.
Shaanxi governor Lou Qinjian said a compensation plan for the victims' family would be drafted.
In addition to the rescue operation, specialists have also combed the area around the debris, detecting 13 sites with a serious risk of secondary disasters.
