17 dead, 44 missing after landslides in SW China

KUNMING - Rain-triggered landslides left 17 people dead and 44 missing in southwest China's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces Tuesday, local authorities said.

As of noon, 53 people had been injured in the disaster.

The provincial government has sent a relief team and relief supplies to Zhaotong.

The relief supplies include 200 tents, 1,000 quilts and 1,000 sets of clothing.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs has also sent a work team to help with the relief effort.

In neighboring Sichuan Province, a rain-triggered landslide left seven people dead and one missing in Yandai Village, Jiulong County, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, at 1:45 am.

In Xuyong County, Luzhou City, Sichuan Province, rescuers said they had recovered the bodies of six and were searching for one more after a landslide hit Sima Village at 4 am.

Rescue work at the three sites of landslides in Yunnan and Sichuan is underway.