30 killed, 12 missing in landslide in Nepal

KATHMANDU: At least 30 people were killed in a landslide triggered by the continuous rainfall that has buried six villages in Nepal's mountainous northeast.

"The landslide hit the villages in Taplejung district at night when people were sleeping," Acting Chief District Officer (CDO) Surendra Bhattarai was today quoted as saying by My Republica.

Bhattarai said that the authorities are preparing to send helicopter to rescue the injured. The number of people who received serious injuries in the incident has reached 10 and another 12 are believed to be missing.

A police team deployed at the site was stranded due to landslide. The number of deceased might increase as the dozen of houses were flooded by the landslide, DSP Shanti Raj Koirala said.

Landslides are common in mountainous Nepal during the rainy monsoon season.

The Himalayan nation is still recovering from two major quakes and several aftershocks that killed nearly 9,000 people and left a trail of destruction.