A rockslide blocked the main highway from Hubei Province to Chongqing Municipality this morning, Xinhua news agency reported.

Rescuers are not sure if any people or vehicles were buried, the report said. It did, however, make driving in the region more difficult as a landslide blocked a different highway last month.

The accident occurred early this morning at the Shuibuya Hydropower Station highway in Changyang County, Hubei Province.

"The 1,000 cubic-meter accumulation slid 1.3 kilometers from Langshui Highway, and we don't know the casualties," said Qin Xiaoyu, Party chief of Langping town, who was at the scene.

A landslide near a rail tunnel killed 35 people last month in Badong County, Hubei Province. It also cut traffic on State Highway 318.

The 318 has not reopened and vehicles were using the Qingjiang Shuibuya Hydropower Station highway as a detour.

The government helped to comfort people and the power company was clearing the road, said the report.

(Shanghai Daily, December 11, 2007)