Mudslides block highway in western China

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BEIJING, July 21 (UPI) -- Mudslides blocked a major highway Saturday in the Uighur autonomous region in western China, cutting a major route to Pakistan, officials said.

About 400 vehicles were stranded on National Highway 314, Xinhua, the official government news agency, reported. The highway goes from Urumqui, the capital of Xinjiang province to the border.

Zhu Yong, a border police officer, said the area was deluged with rain that began Friday night. The downpours triggered several mudslides.

No deaths were reported. Local police were able to get food and water to those stranded on the highway.

By late Saturday, the route had been partially cleared and some traffic had resumed.