BEIJING: A landslide triggered by unusually heavy rain killed four people and left eight others missing in northern China’s Hebei province, state media said on Monday, as downpours force thousands to evacuate.

The landslide in a village near Chengde City was “due to heavy rainfall,” state broadcaster CCTV reported.

The national emergency management department said it dispatched a team to inspect the “severe” flooding in Hebei, which encircles the capital Beijing.

Swathes of northern China have been inundated in recent days, with record rain in Hebei killing two people on Saturday, state media said.

In Fuping County, more than 4,600 people were evacuated over the weekend, it said.