Number of missing in SE China landslide rises to 41

A rescue is underway in Fujian province after a landslide buried more than 30 people on May 8, 2016. [Photo/CCTV News]

The number of people missing from a landslide that hit Southeast China's Fujian Province on Sunday has risen to 41, according to a press conference held Sunday night.

The landslide occurred at about 5 a.m. in Taining County, where about 100,000 cubic meters of mud and rocks flowed downhill, burying a temporary shed at a hydropower station construction site and damaging its offices. 

Preliminary data show that seven people were rescued while 34 remain missing, China News Service cited Sanming government officials as saying. The seven injured were rushed to the hospital, with one in critical condition.

Most workers were sleeping when about 100,000 cubic meters of mud and rocks flowed downhill, burying the construction site of the station and its office building, fjsen.com reported.

A rescue is underway but it is hampered by the heavy rain. More than 100 firefighters are searching for survivors as of 11 am Sunday, China News Agency reported.

The local tourism administration in Taining county ordered all scenic spots to suspend business starting at 8 am. The mountainous county boasts rich scenic lakes and canyons.

Provincial leaders, including You Quan, Party chief of the province, and Yu Weiguo, the governor, rushed to the scene.

Rescuers attributed the landslide to continuous heavy rain in recent days.

The county was battered by heavy rain between Saturday and today, with rainfall hitting 191.6 mm in some areas in 24 hours.

A rescue is underway in Fujian province after a landslide buried more than 30 people. [Photo/CCTV News]

In an instruction following the accident, President Xi Jinping urged the Fujian local government and related departments to organize rescue work as quickly as possible.

He demanded all-out efforts to search for buried and missing people, and stressed proper treatment for the injured, while consoling the relatives of the injured and missing.

Xi also urged strengthening local monitoring and safety checks for hidden dangers to prevent secondary disasters.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang issued a written instruction calling for full efforts to search for and rescue those missing in the landslide and to treat the injured.

Li also asked the Ministry of Land and Resources to take the lead to form and dispatch a work team under the State Council to Fujian to oversee and help with rescue work.