A rescue operation is underway after a massive landslide buried part of a village in a rural area of north China's Shanxi Province on Monday.

An unknown number of people from five families were believed to be buried under the debris at the village in Zhangzishan Township, Zhongyang County, a county government spokesman said.

Two people had been pulled alive from the debris, but the exact number of people missing was yet to be confirmed, he said.

The landslide happened at about 10:40 a.m..