Landslides, floods kill eight in China after heavy rains

Heavy rainfall across China has triggered floods and landslides, killing at least eight people and leaving 24 others missing, state media has reported.

Three coal miners were killed and 11 others went missing after a rain-triggered landslide hit a county in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality yesterday after 27 employees with the Yongfa coal mine in Yunyang County were moving to a safe location after torrential rains lashed the area.

Twelve workers were buried after the landslide with one rescued later, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 500 rescue workers, including firefighters and police, have evacuated 7,000 residents in nine rain-drenched townships in Yunyang county to safe locations, the news agency reported, quoting local officials.

In Yunyang alone, the estimated economic losses stood at $11m.