Five people were killed as they slept by a falling boulder early Sunday morning near Guang'an City, in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

According to the provincial disaster relief office, the tragedy occurred at shortly after midnight at Huatan Village. A gigantic boulder broke away from the cliff, falling 90 meters into a courtyard residence inhabited by a family surnamed Tang. The huge rock destroyed six rooms, with a combined floor space of about 400 square meters, and killing five people inside.

A joint task force formed by the Sichuan disaster relief office, bureau for civil affairs and bureau of land and resources was sent from the provincial capital, Chengdu, to Guang’an to deal with the aftermath.

Investigation into the accident and damages incurred is continuing.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2004)