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In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescue workers recover a body in the aftermath of a landslide at Pingdi Village in Shuicheng County of Liupanshui City, southwestern China's Guizhou Province Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Authorities say at least a dozen people have died in two landslides in southwestern China and a rescue operation is underway for missing. (Tao Liang/Xinhua via AP)

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This photo released by Xinhua News Agency shows a landslide site in Pingdi Village in Shuicheng County of Liupanshui City, southwestern China's Guizhou Province Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Authorities say at least a dozen people have died in two landslides in southwestern China and a rescue operation is underway for missing. (Tao Liang/Xinhua via AP)

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Rescuers look for victims in the aftermath of a landslide in Pingdi village in Shuicheng county in southwestern China's Guizhou province on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Authorities say at least a dozen people have died in two landslides in southwestern China and a rescue operation is underway for the missing. (Chinatopix via AP)

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This image taken from a video footage run by China's CCTV, shows the landslide in Shuicheng county in southwestern China's Guizhou province Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Authorities say at least a dozen people have died in two landslides in southwestern China and a rescue operation is underway for missing. (CCTV via AP Video)

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In this image taken from a video footage run by China's CCTV, rescue vehicles are parked near a landslide in Shuicheng county in southwestern China's Guizhou province Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Authorities say at least a dozen people have died in two landslides in southwestern China and a rescue operation is underway for missing. (CCTV via AP Video)

Landslides in southwest China kill 12; 34 missing

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 12:28 AM ET Jul. 25, 2019

BEIJING (AP) — At least 16 people died in two landslides in southwestern China and rescuers were looking for 30 missing, Chinese state media reported.

A landslide on Tuesday night buried 21 houses and caused at least 15 deaths in Guizhou province's Shuicheng county, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Eleven people were rescued and sent to a hospital while another 30 remained unaccounted for. Heavy rainfall is believed to be the main cause.

More than 800 rescuers have been scouring the area, where continuous rainfall and the mountain's steep slopes have hampered search efforts.

Meanwhile, one person died and six others are missing after an earlier landslide hit a village in Hezhang county in Guizhou on Tuesday afternoon. The landslide happened at a highway construction site, the Xinhua state news agency reported.