More than 80 people have been killed and 2,000 missing in landslides triggered by torrential rains in northwest China’s Gansu province today.

The landslides hit Zhouqu county in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu following heavy rains, which began last night, officials said.

“Torrential rains began to fall at around 10:00 pm Saturday (last night), then there were landslides and the power of the county was cut,” Diemujiangteng, head of the county, said.

“The water of Bailong River then flowed into the county seat and many people were trapped. Now the sludge has become the biggest problem to rescue operations. It’s too thick to walk or drive through,” he said.

Officials said over 80 people had died and an estimated 2,000 were missing so far in the disaster-hit county.

The heavy downpour had halted, but the prefecture’s meteorological bureau predicted heavy rains on the upper reach of Bailong River on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Two helicopters carrying demolition experts had left for the landslide-hit county to explode the barrier lake, according to the provincial flood relief headquarters.

Medical teams and 2,800 troops were also sent to the county by the People’s Liberation Army’s Lanzhou Military Area Command, according to the headquarters.