 "Representational image. Reuters")
Heavy rain in China’s southwest Sichuan province caused a landslip that killed at least one person and left almost 30 others missing, according to official media on Sunday.
China has been struck by harsh weather in recent months, with scores dead in floods last year, the hottest on record.
Extreme weather events are becoming more often due to climate change, according to scientists.
Jinping hamlet in Yibin was struck by a landslip on Saturday at about 11:50 a.m. (0350 GMT).
According to state news agency Xinhua, “one person has been killed and 28 people are missing” as of Sunday morning.
According to Xinhua, two people were rescued on Saturday, and over 900 rescuers are working to locate the other individuals who are missing.
Video footage published by state broadcaster CCTV earlier on Sunday showed rescuers with flashlights searching through debris in the dark.
“A preliminary study shows this disaster occurred due to the influence of recent prolonged rainfall and geological factors,” CCTV said, citing local authorities.
President Xi Jinping ordered authorities on Saturday to do “everything possible to search for and rescue missing people, minimise casualties, and properly handle the aftermath”.