KUNMING, July 9 -- Six people have died and 25 remain missing after rain-triggered mudslides hit two counties in southwest China's Yunnan Province early on Wednesday.

In Shawa Village, Fugong County, a mudslide destroyed a silicon mining site at around 3 a.m., leaving 17 people missing and another injured, said Li Hongwen, the county's Communist Party chief who is overseeing rescue work.

In a difficult operation, more than 140 rescuers are searching the site about 500 meters from the Nujiang River.

Some of the missing people may have been swept into the river, while others may be buried under the thick mud and rock debris, Li said.

Another mudslide ravaged residential houses at Minzhu Village, Yunlong County, at around 2 a.m., killing six people and leaving eight others missing, according to the civil affairs bureau of Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, which administers Yunlong.

Some 509 people from 153 households in the village were affected by the mudslide, according to the county government's information office.

The mudslide blocked roads to the village and destroyed or damaged farmland and houses as well as power and telecommunication facilities. Communication with the village was also cut off, according to the office.

More than 200 people are working at the scene to help evacuate villagers and dispatch disaster-relief materials.