More than 400 villagers in Baokang County of central China's Hubei Province on Friday were evacuated, as their homes were under the threat of landslides.

A week of heavy rainfall has soaked loose mantlerock-covered hills in many places in the county. So far, no casualties have been reported, according to a local land resources official.

Huang Xiuguo, director of the Land Resources Bureau of Baokang County, told Xinhua that landslides in Huangtuling village on Thursday battered 102 houses and caused blackouts, and traffic and telecommunication interruption in four neighboring villages.

The official said that there are still potential landslide dangers threatening the homes of over 300 people and a primary school in the village. Meanwhile, other areas threatened by landslides were found in Dongpo village, putting 155 local residents' homes at risk.

The measured landslide earth volume has been estimated at 13 million cubic meters, which blocked a 500 meter long watercourse holding some 4,000 cubic meters of water from running down, according to the bureau.

An emergency evacuation command office has been established in the county. Local police were dispatched to ensure the safety of evacuated villagers. Three landslide observation stations are working around the clock.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2005)