BEIJING — The death toll from a mudslide in eastern China has risen to three, while nine people remain missing after days of intense rainfall linked to Typhoon Saudel caused flooding and landslides across parts of the country.

The mudslide struck early Saturday in Suichuan County in Jiangxi Province, where collapsing homes and saturated ground created dangerous conditions for rescue teams. Authorities have continued searching the affected area as they assess the extent of the damage.

Mudslide Hits Village After Days of Heavy Rain

The disaster occurred in the village of Mingkeng in Suichuan County after prolonged rainfall associated with Typhoon Saudel.

Local authorities moved residents away from vulnerable areas as the ground became increasingly unstable. Several homes were damaged or destroyed when the mudslide swept through part of the settlement.

Rescue crews faced difficult conditions as roads and communications in the affected area were disrupted by the landslide and flooding.

Three People Confirmed Dead

The confirmed death toll increased as rescuers reached areas that had initially been difficult to access.

According to the latest reports, three people have died and nine others remain unaccounted for. Rescue personnel have been conducting searches among collapsed structures and debris in an effort to locate those still missing.

Earlier reports had put the number of missing people higher, but the figures changed as authorities located some victims and continued verifying information from the disaster zone.

Rescue Teams Face Dangerous Conditions

Search teams have been working in difficult terrain because continuing rain can cause additional landslides and make already unstable ground even more hazardous.

Reuters footage showed rescue operations continuing in Jiangxi, with teams moving into the worst-hit sections after overcoming difficult access conditions. Power and communications were also affected in parts of the disaster area.

Authorities have treated the search for missing residents as an urgent priority while also attempting to protect rescuers from further ground movement.

Typhoon Saudel Brings Widespread Flooding

The Jiangxi mudslide is part of a broader weather emergency associated with Typhoon Saudel.

The storm brought intense rainfall to several parts of eastern and southern China, producing flooding, landslides and damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Reuters reported earlier that Fujian and Guangdong provinces were preparing for further heavy rain after severe downpours flooded urban and rural areas.

Hundreds of Thousands Evacuated

The scale of the weather emergency has prompted large-scale evacuations.

Chinese authorities reported that about 600,000 people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas of Fujian as the storm and associated rainfall threatened coastal and inland communities.

Emergency workers have used boats and other equipment to reach residents in flooded areas, while officials have closed some facilities and restricted movement in locations considered particularly dangerous.

More Homes Damaged in Fujian

The storm has also caused significant structural damage in Fujian.

More than 100 houses reportedly collapsed in Huating Town in Putian, while a breached dike contributed to flooding in nearby villages.

Emergency personnel were deployed to move residents away from flooded locations and reach people who became trapped by rapidly rising water.

Other Deaths Reported in Hunan

The effects of the storm have extended beyond Jiangxi and Fujian.

Chinese state media reported two additional deaths in Hunan Province following heavy rainfall associated with Saudel. The reports linked the extreme weather to landslides and other disasters but did not provide a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding those deaths.

The separate incidents underline the broad geographical impact of the storm system.

Authorities Continue Monitoring Flood and Landslide Risks

Heavy rain creates a heightened risk of secondary disasters even after the main storm weakens.

Saturated hillsides can collapse without warning, while rivers and drainage systems can quickly become overwhelmed. Officials have therefore continued relocating people from areas considered vulnerable to flooding and landslides.

Rescue teams are also being cautious about entering unstable zones while searching for missing residents.

China Faces Another Severe Weather Challenge

The latest disaster adds to a difficult period of extreme weather across parts of China.

Typhoons can bring intense rainfall far beyond their immediate landfall areas, increasing the danger of flash floods and landslides in mountainous and rural communities.

In Jiangxi, the combination of prolonged rain and unstable terrain created conditions in which a relatively localized landslide became a deadly disaster.

Search for Missing Residents Continues

The immediate focus remains on the nine people who are still missing.

Rescuers are searching damaged homes and debris while authorities continue assessing whether additional areas require evacuation.

The death toll could still change as search teams gain access to sections of the affected village that have remained difficult to reach.

For residents of Jiangxi and other provinces affected by Saudel, the priority remains survival, evacuation and recovery as authorities confront continuing risks from heavy rain and unstable ground.