China mudslides kill 20, with 42 missing

BEIJING (Reuters) - Mudslides in southwest China on the weekend killed at least 20 people, with another 42 missing in the hilly countryside, official media reported.

The torrents of mud and rock hit near Chuxiong city in Yunnan province, and in countryside near the province capital Kunming, toppling or damaging nearly 1,000 houses, Xinhua news agency reported.

The brief reports did not give reasons for the mudslides. "The disaster is still under further investigation," said the report about Chuxiong.

Local media reported showers over the past few days in Chuxiong, which is dominated by the Yi ethnic minority.

Yunnan is dominated by steep terrain, and many of its farmers live in villages perched on steep slopes. Mining takes place in some areas.

In September, a mudslide triggered by dammed up tailings from an iron ore mine killed over 250 people in north China's Shanxi province.

Flash floods over the weekend also killed at least 7 people in south China's Guangxi region.

(Reporting by Chris Buckley)