A disastrous landslide left 21 villagers trapped on Friday after rescuers pulled 23 victims from toppled houses in Nayong County of the southwest China's Guizhou Province.

"Excavators are clearing up the rubble and rescue efforts are still under way," said Yang Guoshun, a work safety commissioner with the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS). The accident occurred at 3 AM. Among the dead, five were children.

Wang Zhengfu, the province's vice-governor and other officials arrived at the site shortly after the accident.

There were 19 families living in Zuojiaying Village, which has a population of 88, Yang said in a telephone interview.

Some people were not at home when the tragedy occurred, he said.

Of the 13 people who were rescued, three were in critical condition. Others were either hospitalized or slightly injured, an official surnamed Chen of the Communist Party Committee of the county said.

In all, the official told China Daily, the landslide has destroyed 25 houses.

The rescuers included armed police, soldiers and officers of the People's Liberation Army stationed in Guizhou, said Chen.

An investigation will be required to find the reason for the landslide.

Officials said it is hard to predict how long it will take to clean up the debris. Meanwhile, the number of casualties could rise.

The tragedy is the second one in Guizhou Province just two days after a fatal gas explosion occurred in Panxian County, which killed 16 miners.

On December 1, a total of 49 miners were working underground when the blast took place. A total of 33 escaped from the scene, including four injuries, officials said.

(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2004)