BEIJING, Dec 4: At least 23 people were killed in a landslide which hit a mountain village in south-western China, where the search for missing people has been halted by fears of further slides, state media reported on Saturday.

China's official Xinhua news agency said the death toll in Guizhou province reached a total of 23 people, revising an earlier report of 39 deaths on state television.

State television reported that 23 people were rescued on Saturday and 16 others pulled from toppled houses on Friday, but said 21 people were still missing.

Rescue work was halted late on Saturday and more than 650 nearby villagers were evacuated after a panel of officials said new cracks had been discovered in the adjacent mountainside, Xinhua reported.

"A team of 400 rescuers had been clearing the mud and stones searching for the victims. At Yanjiao, the affected villagers are now accommodated in 40 tents, and more tents are being set up," Xinhua said.-Reuters