Landslides hamper repair work

Five vehicles were buried over the weekend by mud flows as they attempted to leave quake-ravaged regions of Sichuan province, and an estimated 200 people were known to have been on board, a transport official said yesterday.

The death toll was not confirmed as rescue work was still under way, said Director of Road Traffic Dai Dongchang with the Ministry of Transport in an interview.

The identities of the victims were yet to be confirmed, he said.