Society

5 dead, 2 missing in NW China landslide

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-03 18:03

XI'AN -- Five villagers are dead and two are missing after a landslide buried their homes in northwest China's Shaanxi Province early Tuesday, the provincial emergency response office said.

Seventeen people were believed to be in six homes that were buried under 450,000 cubic meters of mud and rocks in Dongcun Village, Baihe County, at around 3 a.m., said a spokesman with the office.

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As of 1:10 p.m., rescuers had managed to pull out 10 people, including one seriously injured person and three with minor injuries.

The injured were taken to hospital.

Rescuers have evacuated 210 villagers from homes at risk of further instability.

"There was light rain in the county Monday, but we are not sure whether the accident was triggered by the rain," said the spokesman.

He said the cause of the landslide was being investigated.

Rescue work is continuing.

Heavy rain hit Ankang City, which administers the Baihe County, last month. The rain triggered floods and landslides that left 63 people dead, 119 missing and 2,824 injured.