China landslide leaves at least 140 missing in Sichuan

More than 140 people are feared buried in a landslide in Sichuan province in south-western China, state media say.

About 40 homes were destroyed in Xinmo village in 
Maoxian county, after the side of a mountain collapsed at about 06:00 local time (22:00 GMT Friday).

Rescue teams are frantically searching for survivors 
trapped beneath rocks.

Pictures posted by the People's Daily newspaper 
show bulldozers moving earth and large boulders as 
the rescue effort continues.

A couple and a baby were rescued and taken to hospital 
after teams of workers used ropes to move large rocks 
while dozens of others searched the rubble, AFP news agency reports, citing local authorities.

The landslide blocked a two-kilometre (1.2-mile) stretch 
of a river, Xinhua news agency reports, citing local officials.

Local police told state broadcaster CCTV the landslide 
had been triggered by recent heavy rains in the region, 
adding that the situation was made worse by a lack of vegetation in the area.

Landslides are a regular danger in mountainous 
regions of China, especially during heavy rains.

In 2008, 87,000 people were killed when an earthquake 
struck Wenchuan county in Sichuan province. In Maoxian county, 37 tourists were killed when their coach was 
buried in a landslide caused by the earthquake.