At least 12 people were killed when rain-triggered landslides struck south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Wednesday, local authorities said.

Heavy rains began pounding Guangxi Monday, causing Wednesday morning's landslides which killed eight people in Yangchong Village, Cenxi City, and four in Liuwang Village, Rongxian County, the regional public security department said.

At least two farmers from Yangchong Village and an unknown number from Liuwang Village are missing. Rescuers are searching for them.

As of Tuesday night, rainstorms have caused floods in 12 counties in six cities in Guangxi.

The rainstorms caused damage to 2,273 homes and 78,000 hectares of crops, according to Guangxi's Civil Affairs Department.

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2010)