Rescue works is underway.

The death toll of a landslide in northwest China's Shaanxi has risen to 17 Thursday and the chances of survival for 11 others missing were slim, said rescuers.

"Houses have been completely buried under loess from a hillside. Rescuers had difficulty finding supporting structures in the debris, where victims could have room for survival," said Guo Peicai, county chief of Zizhou, where the landslide occurred at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

About 90,000 cubic meters of earth slid down the hillside in Shuanghuyu Village, crushing 25 houses and burying 44 people.

Ten people with slight injuries were taken to hospital, while six others escaped uninjured, Guo said.

Tang Shougui was among relatives of the missing waiting at the rescue site, where 400 rescuers, including police, firemen and coal mine rescue professionals are still searching.

"My wife and son are still buried there. I know the government is doing their utmost in the rescue work," he said.

Tang, who was working in neighboring Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, was called home by his neighbors at noon Wednesday. He was told rescuers had arrived half an hour after the accident happened at midnight.