9 trapped after houses collapse in landslide in Hubei

Nine people have been trapped after their houses collapsed in a landslide in Yuanshan village in Huangmei county, Hubei province, early on Wednesday morning, according to local government.

The landslide was triggered by heavy rain that began before dawn, and rainfall had reached 353 millimeters as of 6 am on Wednesday.

Rescue teams including emergency, public security, armed police, public health, medical and other departments have arrived at the village and are making efforts to help the trapped villagers.

The rest of the over 40 villagers have been moved to safe places.

Rain was also heavy in the county, with more than 200 millimeters.

Nearly 500 resident senior students in Huaning High School in Huangmei county were trapped by the waterlogging in the campus on Wednesday morning, the second day of the national college entrance exam, or gaokao.

Teams of rescuers from emergency and public security arrived while large forklifts were sent to assist the students.

More than 300 students had arrived at the examination sites on time, according to the local public security bureau.