1 dead, 2 missing in landslide in Hubei

WUHAN - A landslide triggered by heavy rains on Thursday in Central China's Hubei province has left one person dead and two others missing, local authorities said.

The landslide occurred at around 9 am on Jiugong Mountain, Tongshan county, Xianning city, when eight workers with a local road maintenance company were inspecting and clearing a road on the mountain.

The county's public security and fire departments and the mountain's management bureau have dispatched personnel to search for the missing workers.

The local public security department said downpours hit the county on Wednesday night and continued into Thursday, resulting in several landslides and traffic congestion.

According to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters, torrential rains have swept 65 counties and cities around the province since Sunday. As of Thursday, more than 2,000 people had been relocated to safe areas.

The headquarters said that in the worst-hit regions, such as Yichang, Huanggang and Enshi, storms have triggered flooding, landslides, mudslides and other natural disasters that have affected nearly 80,000 people, inundated land and damaged houses.