By 6:00 pm Thursday, 43 were still missing.

The mud-rock flow occurred at about 4:00 am in the Yi-Dai Autonomous County of Xinping in Yunnan's Yuxi City. It destroyed over 600 houses in 10 villages, and washed away the tobacco plants which give local residents their livelihood.

Property losses are estimated to be worth over 35 million yuan (US$4.2 million).

Rescue teams rushed to the site immediately after the tragedy occurred.

The injured are receiving treatment and quilts, clothes and grain have been delivered to the stricken areas.

The local meteorological department has predicted more rains from Thursday to Friday in Xinping, warning against potential mud-rock flows.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2002)