8 dead, 24 missing in SW China rainstorms

Photo shows a flooded street after heavy rain in Wuxi County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Sept 1, 2014. (Xinhua photo)

Eight people have died and 24 others are missing by early Tuesday after rainstorms brought landslides to southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, said the local rescue headquarters.

More than 500 professional rescuers, including fire-fighters and armed police, have evacuated over 7,000 residents in nine rain-drenched townships in Yunyang county to safe locations, said the headquarters.

The missing include 11 coal miners in Yunyang who were buried by a landslide on Monday morning.

Torrential rain started to pound northeastern parts of Chongqing on Sunday, causing direct economic losses of 68 million yuan ($11 million) in Yunyang.