(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-12 06:43

HEFEI -- Six villagers were killed in a landslide in east China's Anhui Province on Wednesday, according to the local government.

They were collecting iron ores in a mountainous area at 10:10 am when huge amounts of rocks and dirt suddenly rushed down and engulfed them.

Rescuers managed to pull them out of the debris, but later they died in hospital after failing to respond to medical treatment.

Local work safety watchdog warned relative departments to investigate potential risks and stop people from illegally collecting ores.

Tropical storm Krosa, which made landfall in China's southeast coast on Sunday and left the mainland Monday, affecting Zhejiang, Fujian and Anhui provinces and Shanghai Municipality. Downpours and strong winds swelled rivers and pounded mountains, leaving many places prone to natural disasters.

Mud-rock flows and landslides left an average 1,036 people dead or missing in China each year from 1995 to 2006, according to Fu Bojie, chief of the environment and resource bureau with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

At least 12,428 people were dead or went missing in China during the 12-year period due to the disasters and around 74 million people across the world face safety risks.