Two separate landslides struck Changshi and Guowa townships in Dafang county, Guizhou province, on Thursday, killing two people and trapping 19 others, local authorities told Xinhua News Agency.

The first landslide hit Changshi at around 3 am, leaving two residents trapped. The second occurred at about 9 am in Guowa, trapping 19 people across eight households. As of 6:55 pm on Thursday, the two people trapped in Changshi had been confirmed dead, Xinhua reported.

Rescue efforts have been hampered by steep terrain and sharp inclines, according to the report.

By 2 pm, multiple units of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force had arrived in the area to join the rescue efforts. The local military subdistrict mobilized about 120 soldiers and local militia from surrounding townships. By noon, more than 60 armed police officers from the Bijie detachment had reached the scene with demolition tools, lifesaving equipment and other specialized gear.

The Ministry of Emergency Management launched a Level IV emergency response for geological disasters and dispatched a work team to provide on-site guidance. At 1 pm, the Ministry of Natural Resources issued a Level II response for geological disaster defense and sent experts to help coordinate emergency efforts.