Man rescued 81 hours after being trapped in mudslide

A Chinese man was found alive after being trapped for more than three days in knee-deep sludge from deadly mudslides that ravaged Zhouqu County in northwest China's Guansu Province.

Wang Dianlan (50) was found at about 9 a.m. by the Chinese soldiers on the second floor of Zhouqu's Fuxing Hotel, which withstood Sunday's massive mudslides.

The troops were searching door to door for survivors in nearby buildings, located in a lake formed by mudslide debris 81 hours earlier.

Wang had survived on dry noodles, but he was dehydrated and stuck in sludge. He was in stable condition, according to military sources.

Wang was slightly deaf, and, according to the sources, did not hear the rescuers nor look for help until Wednesday when he ran out of food, Xinhua reports.

Hopes are fading after the end of the 72-hour for survivors, considered the optimum time for rescue.

At least 702 people were killed and 1,042 others are missing after Sunday's mudslides.