BEIJING (Reuters) - China's West-East natural gas pipeline exploded near the site of a landslide on Sunday (Dec 20) in the southern city of Shenzhen in Guangdong province, state television said.

The official China Central Television (CCTV) broadcaster said 27 people were missing and three were injured after the landslide hit on Sunday morning, burying 22 buildings.

The landslide struck Shenzhen's Liuxi Industrial Park in the city's northwestern Guangming New District in the morning, said the official Xinhua news agency, citing rescuers.

Four people have been rescued from the debris, with three sustaining minor injuries, it said.

As of 5pm, rescuers had evacuated more than 900 people from the site, said Xinhua. Xinhua had earlier said at least 41 people were missing, with seven people rescued and one suffering minor injuries.