Death toll from SW China landslide rises to 20

GUIYANG - The death toll has climbed to 20 in a landslide that hit a village in southwest China's Guizhou Province with the recovery of the bodies of nine more victims.

As of 8 a.m. Saturday, three people remained missing after intense rain triggered the landslide at around 5:30 a.m. on Friday in Pianpo Village, Dafang County, according to the local rescue headquarters.

Thirty people were buried by the debris. Seven of them were rescued alive but sustained injuries.

More than 800 soldiers and rescuers are working with excavators to search for the missing villagers.

The landslide involved more than 95,000 cubic meters of debris and covered an area of 19,000 square meters.