Eight farmers are missing while ten others were rescued after a massive landslide in central China's Hubei Province, an official said on Sunday.

About five million cubic meters of mud and rock carried 15 houses into the Qingjiang River near Dayantang Village of Qingtaiping Town in Badong County, said Long Shihong, Party chief of Badong County. The Qingjiang River is a major tributary of the Yangtze River.

The local government had earlier evacuated 287 residents from the area because of fears of a potential landslide, but 18 farmers about a kilometer from the village were hit by the landslide while working on their farmland.

Long said the search for survivors continues.

Heavy rain since May is to blame for the landslide, said Long.

In early May, another major landslide hit Muzhuping Village, 15 kilometers away from Dayantang Village, forcing an evacuation of 658 residents.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2007)