Rain-triggered landslide blocks Sichuan-Tibet highway

Several sections of the Sichuan-Tibet highway are blocked following a rain-triggered landslide that occurred Wednesday night, local rescuers said Thursday.

Torrential rains hit Tibet's Markam County Wednesday evening, flooding some parts of the highway and triggering landslides, said Chen Jun, head of the rescue team.

Landslides have buried at least eight sections of the highway, Chen said, adding that clearing the road has been difficult and it is not yet known when traffic will resume.

The Sichuan-Tibet highway, a pivotal route linking the Tibet Autonomous Region and Sichuan Province, is facing greater risks of floods and landslides amid the region's rainy season, which lasts from June to August.