BEIJING ( AFP) - The number of people missing after a landslide struck dozens of homes in rural southwestern China has climbed to 32, authorities said on Tuesday (Aug 29).

At least three people were found dead and seven were injured in Monday's disaster in a township in Bijie city in Guizhou province, according to a report on the official news site of the local government.

The search is continuing, it said, adding that rescuers were carrying out relief efforts for affected locals.

Video posted on the Twitter account of the official People's Daily on Monday showed the side of a hill collapsing, with dirt rushing across the outskirts of the town as onlookers shouted in fright.

National authorities have issued a Grade-IV emergency response for Bijie, the lowest in a four-tier alert system.

The designation mandates daily damage reports and the allocation of money and relief materials within 48 hours.

Landslides are a frequent danger in rural and mountainous parts of China, particularly after heavy rain. In June and August massive landslides in the southwestern province of Sichuan killed more than 30 and left scores missing.

In July, more than 60 people were killed by landslides and floods in the central province of Hunan. Some 1.6 million people were forced from their homes.