The death toll from an east China landslide has risen to 21, with 16 people still missing, local authorities said Sunday.
Only one person has been rescued so far after the landslide hit a village in Zhejiang Province Friday night.
The landslide was reported at around 10:50 p.m. in Lidong Village of Yaxi Township in the outlying Liandu District of Lishui City, the city government said in a press release.
Torrents of mud and rocks buried 27 homes in the village, with 21 houses flooded.
Mao Zirong, Lishui's standing deputy mayor, said the large amount of mud has formed a small barrier lake at the site, hampering rescue efforts.
The local government has dispatched 52 teams composed of more than 620 people to investigate the site in case of any further disasters.
"We have sent a team of 35 professional psychologists to provide psychological intervention for the family members of the victims," said Yang Xiuqing, head of Liandu District.
More than 2,300 rescuers, along with 7 sniffer dogs, are helping with rescue work.
Lishui has reported heavy rain over the past two days. As of 8 a.m. Friday, average precipitation had reached 36 mm. It was still raining when the landslide happened, the local weather bureau said.
