A five-hour downpour set off large landslides in the Yaan area in the province of Sichuan, the Xinhua news agency said.

Rescuers were still searching for more casualties. Roads and several acres of crops were damaged, the report said.

Direct economic losses were estimated at 26 million yuan (3.1 million dollars), said Zhang Bida, head of the Communist Party district committee.

TERRA.WIRE