Chance to Survive 'Dim' for 107 Buried in Landslide

Some 107 people from 38 families had a "slim" chance to survive after being buried by a rainstorm-triggered landslide Monday afternoon in southwest China's Guizhou Province, according to officials at the local rescue headquarters.

The landslide occurred at 2:30 p.m. in Dazhai Village, Gangwu Township of Guanling County, said a spokesman for the government of Anshun City, which administers Guanling.

Also, rescue work had been suspended due to persistent downpours, which had been pounding the township since Sunday night, said headquarters officials.

Villager Cen Chaoyang said he rushed out of his house when he heard the landslide and managed to escape.

"I called for the others to flee, but it was too late. I saw some people behind me being buried," Cen told Xinhua in a telephone interview.

(Xinhua News Agency June 28, 2010)