GUIYANG - Rescuers in southwestern Guizhou province are searching for the three people who have been missing since a landslide hit the area late Monday night, local authorities said Tuesday.

The landslide occurred at around 11:00 pm in the village of Gaoyuan in Guiding county, according to the county government's information office.

An initial investigation showed that the three missing, all from adjacent Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, were visiting relatives in the village.

Guizhou had endured months of lingering drought before continuous rain came during the National Day holiday, which is thought to have triggered the landslide, according to the press center.

The Guiding government has taken measures to prevent ensuing landslides.