Over 100 missing in China landslide

By Tevfik Durul

BEIJING (AA) - At least 114 people are believed to have been buried by a landslide in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the provincial government said on Saturday.

The officials form Sichuan Province government told local media that the landslide triggered by heavy rain caused a high part of a mountain near Xinmo village in Maoxian County to collapse.

Occurred early morning, according to state new agency Xinhua, the landslide blocked a 2 km stretch of river and 'smashed at least 40 houses' in the surrounding area.

More than 300 rescue workers and security teams are involved in search operations in the site to rescue the missing people.

Deadly landslides are a common hazard in mountainous parts of China, particularly when triggered by heavy rains.