Chinese rescuers in the northern municipality of Tianjin were still looking for seven people buried by a landslide at a quarry in Jixian County on Tuesday morning after recovering the bodies of five others.

The landslide occurred at 9:20 a.m. on Sunday at Xiwubaihu Quarry in Baijian Town.

Twelve people were confirmed to be buried and eight work sheds crushed when the accident happened, said a spokesman for the rescue headquarters.

The landslide measured more than 100 meters in length and was more than 50 meters deep. Six excavators were being used at the scene of the accident.

Measures have been taken to prevent another possible slide while rescue operation continued.

Local officials said the accident was the result of a natural landslide. Five other nearby quarries were closed for safety reasons.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2008)