Tucked between the steep slopes of the Min Shan and the Bailong River in northwest China, the city of Zhouqu has a picturesque location. However, the intimidating natural beauty also carries a risk. On August 8, 2010, unusually intense monsoon rains triggered devastating landslides and floods that buried a densely populated area in the center of the city. As of August 17, China’s official news agency reported 1,270 deaths with 474 people still missing.