8 dead, 17 missing in SW China landslide

Eight people were confirmed dead and 17 others remained missing after a landslide destroyed a village in southwest China's Guizhou Province on Wednesday night.

The landslide struck Yingping Village in Fuquan City at 8:30 p.m., injuring 22 people and toppling 77 houses in addition to those killed or missing, rescuers said.

"The electricity suddenly went out, so we felt our way out of the house in darkness. The house was buried the moment I rushed out, and Tan, who was just behind me, didn't make it," Zeng Shuping, a local villager, said.

Half of a 600-meter-high knoll broke free and wiped out a majority of the village at the foot of the hill.

Residents said the village was occupied mainly by children and elderly when the landslide struck, as many of the villagers had moved to the city for work.

About 100 firemen are on the scene trying to rescue survivors from the debris. With signs of life detected in the rubble, rescuers must avoid large machinery to avoid injuring survivors, said Wang Xuejun, a paramilitary police officer overseeing rescue efforts.

Pictures on microblog Sina Weibo show rescuers removing rocks and planks with bare hands. Sniffer dogs are also on the scene.

Relief materials, including 150 tents, 500 quilts, water and food, have been dispatched to help local villagers get through the night. But strong downpours in the locality are adding difficulty to rescue efforts.