Massive China landslide kills 23

A landslide in northern China has killed 23 people, all migrant workers at a nearby coal mine or members of their families, state media report.

China's official Xinhua news agency said that two people had been pulled out alive after rescuers worked through the night in Shanxi province.

It added that rescuers were still searching for more survivors.

Northern China has been hit by early and heavy snow and bitterly cold weather over the past few days.

Xinhua quoted the local Communist Party chief, Nie Chunyu, as saying that most of the victims of the slip, which occurred in Zhangzishan Township, near Luliang city in northern Shanxi province, were from Yunnan province.

"The victims were migrant workers at a nearby coal mine and their families. They were all natives from southwestern Yunnan province," the report added.

Dangerous occupation

The landslide covered an area of about 20,000 sq metres and buried five homes.

Mining accidents kill and injure thousands every year in China

Twelve bodies were retrieved from the debris on Monday and a further 11 were found by early Tuesday.

In September of last year, a mudslide triggered by dammed up tailings from an iron ore mine killed over 250 people in the same province.

At least 3,200 people died in China's coal mines last year.

China has been attempting to crack down on violations of safety regulations at coal mines, and many smaller mines have closed in recent months.