China landslide buries, traps dozens

BEIJING, June 28 (UPI) -- A landslide caused by a rainstorm struck China's southwest Guizhou province Monday, burying or trapping up to 108 people, authorities said.

The victims were members of 38 families living in the Dazhai village in the province's Guanling County, Xinhua news agency reported. Earlier reports said as many as 150 people may have been buried or trapped.

Authorities said the landslide struck in the afternoon following continuous heavy rainfall. Rescue work was under way.

Southern and southwest China have been ravaged by heavy rains and floods in recent weeks. More than 200 people have died, another 100 were missing and more than 2 million people have been displaced by the floods.

Separately, China Daily reported nine workers were trapped after their coal mine flooded in central Hunan province.

The incident occurred early Sunday at Taiyuan Coal Mine in Lutang Township of Chenzhou City. The trapped miners were working in a tunnel of the mine when it flooded. Rescue teams were working to save the miners, the report said.