Landslides kill 6, leave 9 missing in eastern China

At least six people were killed and nine others remain missing after a series of mudslides and landslides struck eastern China’s Jiangxi province following days of torrential rain, state media reported Tuesday.

Five people were confirmed dead and seven remained missing in Mingkeng village in Suichuan County as of Tuesday noon, Xinhua news agency reported, citing local officials.

Elsewhere in the county, landslides in Zuo'an and Tanghu townships left one person dead and two others missing.

Search and rescue operations were continuing, alongside efforts to reinforce damaged roads and prevent secondary disasters.

The disasters followed days of torrential rainfall brought by Typhoon Saudel, which triggered flooding and landslides across parts of eastern and southeastern China.

Saudel made landfall twice -- in Zhejiang province on Aug. 28 before making another landfall as a tropical storm in neighboring Fujian province on Sept. 3.

In Fujian, several people remained unaccounted for after torrential rains triggered flooding and other disasters in Chengxiang district of Putian city.

Heavy rainfall caused secondary disasters in Huating town, where more than 100 houses collapsed, Xinhua reported, citing local authorities.

More than 5,300 residents in Suichuan had earlier been evacuated from at-risk areas, while hundreds of rescue personnel were deployed.