Seven men and 10 women died Thursday in a deadly landslide in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The landslide at 5:10 pm in Wuqi County, Yan'an City, destroyed three cave houses where the victims were staying. Cave homes are widespread in the province and are dug in loess slopes.

Provincial officials have arrived to investigate the cause of the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2002)