An estimated 91 people are missing after a catastrophic landslide hit China's Shenzhen city in Guangdong province on Sunday. The incident buried around 33 buildings, according to local reports.

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Early morning on Monday, Shenzhen Evening News quoted rescue respondents that there are still 61 individuals missing. According to the Ministry of Land and Resources's official Weibo account, the landslide was caused by the build-up of soil at a local construction waste dump site. The huge accumulation of pile apparently prompted the buildings to topple.

When people saw the soil was loosening, some started leaving the area. Then in a matter of 30 minutes, as the mud gradually flowed down the slope and after 900 people had escaped to safety, the buildings started collapsing. 

The incident reportedly caused a West-East pipe to leak out natural gas. Fortunately, the situation was given immediate attention, and no explosion occurred. Photos posted online shows leaning buidings and vehicles crushed at the site.

The missing people, according to Yang Feng of the city's emergency management office, include 36 men and 23 women. Three people were reportedly hurt as a result of the mishap.

The rescue headquarters has announced that some survivors may be trapped in three different locations. Rescuers have admited that geological difficulties is affecting their recovery.

Local fire control department rescuers say that their rescue mission is also being hampered by the weather, the low nighttime visibility and the huge pile of mud. Experts estimate that a total of over 100,000 square meters is covered by six-meter thick soil.

Some people living nearby described their experience. One employee from Liuxu Technology Co. recalled that by noon, all their lights went out. Then he "saw red earth and mud running towards the company building."

Following the landslide, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have ordered personnel to enhance rescue efforts. President Xi told emergency respondents to rescue and evacuate affected individials to safety and further conduct scientific investigation to minimize further damage. While Li called for an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.

Over 1500 rescuers were deployed to the site of the landslide, including firemen, police men and medical teams. By 5 pm in the afternoon, over 900 residents were already evacuated.

Tagslandslide, Ministry of Land and Resource, emergency, rescuers, Hengtaiyu industrial park