China tailings dam disaster death toll

Reuters image of the search for victims

Reuters is now reporting that the number of fatalities in the China tailings dam disaster (landslide / debris flow) is now 128 people. A unknown number remain buried in the debris. Interestingly, Xinhua appears to have ceased reporting on the event (corrected: they do now have a report), amongst suggestions that journalists are being kept away.

The difficulties facing the rescuers are clear from the above image. Recovering anyone alive from within that deposit is very unlikely.