Rescuers search for survivers at a landslide site in Shanyang County, northwest China's Shaanxi province, Aug 12, 2015. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

More than 700 police, firefighters, mining rescuers and paramedics are at the scene. Residents living nearby have been evacuated.

Rescue efforts, however, have been hampered by the unstable environment on the surrounding mountain slopes.

President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have ordered all-out efforts and have warned rescuers to be on guard against secondary disasters.

A work team sent by the State Council, China's cabinet, is en route to the site to oversee the search and rescue efforts.

Villagers believe excessive mining may be to blame as the region received no rain on Sunday.

Shanyang is a vanadium-rich county and several mines are located in the township where the landslide occurred. Residents have often voiced concern about the impact of mining activities on the environment.