No fewer than 40 people were buried in a landslide in the southwestern Chinese Province of Yunnan, and rescue volunteers recovered eight bodies.

Authorities believed that 47 people from 18 households were buried in the village of Liangshui, where a few thousand people live.

The state media reported on Monday, that the landslide struck at 5:51 a.m. on Monday (2151 GMT Sunday).

More than 200 people were evacuated from the area, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out rescue operation in response to the landslide.

He also called for early warning systems to be strengthened to prevent further disasters.

State television showed images of rescue workers searching for people among the rubble.

According to reports, the disaster control team arrived with dozens of vehicles and around 300 rescue workers.

On Monday, the temperature at the accident scene was around freezing, and it had snowed the night before.

Light snow was anticipated for the affected region on Tuesday.

The buried houses were all built on a steep slope.

An Institute for Disaster Prevention official said there was little chance of survival for those trapped.

The official said the danger of landslides was well-known in the area and that further mudslides were possible.

Rain and snowfall, melting ice or changes in the groundwater were cited as conceivable reasons for the landslide.

(dpa/NAN)