Rescuers search for 35 men buried by landslide in China

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING

Rescuers are struggling to save around 35 people who were buried after a landslide struck a construction site at a hydropower station in southeast China's Fujian province early Sunday.

State news agency Xinhua reported that more than 100 firefighters are searching the site, but the rescue is being hampered by heavy rain.

Preliminary data showed that seven people were rescued while 34 remain missing after the landslide struck at 4.46 a.m. (2046GMT Saturday) in Kaishan township, Taining county, Sanming city.

Workers were reported to have been sleeping when around 100,000 cubic meters (3531466.6 cubic feet) of mud and rocks buried the construction site and its office building.

Xinhua quoted government officials as saying that one of those rescued is in critical condition.

The region was battered by heavy rains overnight, with rainfall reported to have hit 191.6 mm in some areas in 24 hours.