Landslide in China, more than 140 people may be buried

A landslide hit 46 houses in a village in Sichuan province early this morning, leaving 141 people feared trapped under the rubble.

Authorities in Sichuan province, China said they have deployed emergency rescue units to Xinmo village, Mao county to search and help victims of the landslide that occurred this morning, according to AFP.

Xinhua said "part of a mountain" in the Tibet and Qiang autonomous regions of Sichuan collapsed at 6 a.m.

Initial statistics from Sichuan authorities said 46 houses of farmers were buried, 141 people were missing. The landslide from the 3,000 meter high mountain created a 2 km long pile of rock and soil blocking the river in Mao County and causing 1.6 km of road blockage.

Mao County authorities said units responding to a "first-class catastrophic geological disaster" were on their way to the site of the landslide. A full assessment of the full extent of the landslide was not yet available.

Rescuers search for victims of a landslide in Sichuan, China. Photo: Sichuanonline

Sichuan Province has banned civilian vehicles from entering Mao County until May 7. The province is trying to determine how many tourists may be stranded in the area after the landslide.

According to CCTV, Chinese President Xi Jinping has asked agencies in Sichuan province to make every effort to rescue those buried and minimize casualties.

A working group from the Chinese State Council has arrived at the scene to assist in the search and comfort survivors.

Sichuan Provincial Armed Police dispatched 542 personnel with search equipment and 23 search dogs to the scene of the landslide. The estimated volume of landslide is three million cubic meters.

Sichuan Meteorological Administration said Mao County has been experiencing rain since June 20, with heavy rain expected to continue until tonight. Landslides caused by heavy rain are a common hazard in rural and mountainous areas in China.

At least 12 people were killed in a landslide in January at a hotel in central Hubei province. In October 2016, at least eight people died in landslides in eastern China after the country was hit by heavy rains from Typhoon Megi.

According to VNE