China: Multiple people jailed for Shenzhen landslide negligence

Event

Forty-five people have been sentenced for their part in causing a landslide in Shenzhen that killed 73 people in 2015. The manager of the company that ran the landfill site, and the former head of Shenzhen's administration bureau were jailed for 20 years. Twenty of those jailed on charges of negligence and abuse of power were government officials.

Context

Seventy-three people were killed after piles of waste and construction materials engulfed a district in Shenzhen, after a dump site overflowed. The dump site was reportedly well over capacity, and more than 200 diggers were used to clear the rubble.

Advice

Individuals in Shenzhen are advised to monitor developments in the situation.