Yemen landslide death toll reaches 39
Eight people were rescued early today from a village hit by a landslide, a Yemeni security official said, but the death toll has now reached 39.
Another 100 people are missing from the village of Dhafeer, 60 miles north of the Yemeni capital of San’a, which was partially buried on Wednesday night when part of the adjacent mountain gave way.
Rescue workers were still hearing moans and cries for help as they dug into the mound of earth and rocks, said security officer, Ahmad al-Maqdishi.
Al-Maqdishi said 23 houses had been completely destroyed and the residents of another 150 homes had been evacuated for fear of a second landslide from Dhafeer Mountain. Another security officer said 39 bodies had been recovered.
“All my family has gone,” said resident Jamil Ahmed, who was visiting San’a when the landslide happened.
The authorities said about 700 soldiers and workers had been sent to Dhafeer, where rescue workers are using shovels and a bulldozer.
