BEIJING >> Authorities say a landslide at a mining community in central China has buried several dormitories and some homes, trapping 40 people.

The fire department in the mountainous county of Shanyang in Shaanxi province says 15 dormitories of the Wuzhou Mining Company were buried, along with three residential homes in the area. It says 14 people have been rescued, and that further efforts are continuing.

State broadcaster CCTV says the area was struck by recent heavy rains. It says rescuers are hampered by steep and rough terrain, and that they are filling in a stream to build a road to allow heavy machinery better access to the site.

The company mines vanadium, an element used in steel alloys.