The death toll from the massive mudslide in Zhouqu County, in northwest China's Gansu Province, has risen to 1,471 as of Wednesday after four more bodies were retrieved, with 294 others still missing, rescue headquarters said Thursday.

A devastating mudslide hit Zhouqu on Aug. 8, ripping many houses from their foundations and tearing multi-story apartment buildings in half.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2010)