Three people are dead and another seven missing after a landslide in a remote village in southwest China's Sichuan Province Thursday, local authorities said.

Heavy rain about 1 a.m. swept away three houses in Banpo village, Leibo County, killing three people and leaving seven missing, the county publicity department said.

The torrential rain also disrupted local traffic and communications.

Rescuers are searching for the missing villagers.

Further details are not immediately available.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2009)