The death toll from mudslides that hit a village in southwest China's Yunnan Province Wednesday has climbed to 24, while 24 others remained missing, officials at the rescue headquarters said Saturday.

The mudslides occurred at about 10:20 PM Wednesday in a village of Longyang District in Baoshan City.

Experts said the area is prone to landslides and it is recommended to permanently remove its population to safer areas, said Zhao Maoqi, vice head of Longyang District Government.

Authorities will soon begin to select a site and work on a relocation plan. Local residents are expected to move into new houses early next year, said Zhao.

Up to 40,000 cubic meters of debris came crashing down on the village, trapping 71 people from 21 families.

An initial investigation blamed the tragedy on loose dirt and rocks sitting atop a steep slope that had been soaked by rain for about 10 days.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2010)