BEIJING -- Authorities said at least 12 people have died in two landslides in southwestern China and a rescue operation is underway for 34 missing.

State broadcaster CCTV said a landslide on Tuesday night, July 23, buried 21 houses and caused at least 11 deaths in Guizhou province's Shuicheng county.

Eleven people have been rescued while another 34 remain missing. More than 500 rescuers are searching the area.

An earlier landslide hit a village in Hezhang county in Guizhou on Tuesday afternoon, leaving one dead and six missing.

The official Xinhua News Agency has reported the landslide occurred at a highway construction site. (AP)