ZHOUQU, China, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived late Sunday in Gansu Province where emergency officials say 2,000 people were missing in a series of deadly landslides.
Besides the missing, at least 127 people were killed, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The disaster occurred in Zhougu County, part of the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China's Gansu Province. Tibetan ethnic herders and farmers make up most of the population, the Times said.
The head of the prefecture told the Xinhua news agency that mud and rocks poured into the community of Chengguan Township during the night, inundating about half of the town and destroying more than 300 homes.
Official said a thick layer of mud was preventing rescue crews from bringing in heavy equipment to help with the digging, forcing them to use shovels and bare hands to reach victims. UPI
