The sudden slide struck a juncture area between Dujiangyan and Wenchuan County, the China Daily said.

No casualties were reported in the area where soldiers had just cleared away debris on the damaged road.

In Dujiangyan, residents were reported in urgent need of aid, officials said, relying heavily on donated food. Their drinking water was transported by firefighters from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.

The 2,000-year-old Dujiangyan irrigation system was deemed safe.