Over 100 people were feared buried after a massive landslide smashed into their homes in southwest Chinas Sichuan Province.

The landslide smashed into some 40 homes, where about 100 people were feared to be buried, officials in the Maoxian County were quoted by the state-run Xinhua news agency as saying.

The landslide from a high part of a mountain in Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba fell on to Xinmo Village at about 6 AM, blocking a 2 km section of a river course.

Local government has launched a “first class” geological disaster and emergency response and a massive rescue operation is underway.

Chinas mountainous parts are frequently hit by landslides, especially during times of heavy rains.

At least 12 people were killed in January when a landslide smashed into a hotel in central Hubei province.

(Feature Image Source: Reuters/Representational Image)