MORE THAN 10 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS BURIED IN MAJOR LANDSLIDE IN SOUTHWESTERN CHINA

BEIJING, JULY 17 /SRNA/ - A major landslide buried more than 10 residential buildings in the city of Chongqing, but it is not known how many people are missing; at least 10 people have been rescued so far, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

The broadcaster said that a search for the missing is underway, but rescue efforts are being hampered by unstable ground and the risk of another landslide. Rescuers are using excavators to search through the debris.

Huge amounts of rocks and earth cascaded down the slope, burying more than 10 residential buildings.

CCTV footage showed a section of the mountain that collapsed onto a residential area. The tragedy occurred today at around 9:10 a.m. local time in Pengshui County.

The rain-induced landslide occurred near a stretch of the Wujiang River, which cuts through karst mountains dotted with small towns and terraced fields.

Authorities said they had sent tents, folding beds and family emergency kits.

Several power poles were buried, disrupting electricity supply. Authorities said that water, electricity and gas services had been suspended within a one-kilometre radius of the landslide site to prevent further disruptions.

Pengshui County is located in the southeastern part of Chongqing and borders the provinces of Hubei and Guizhou.