KUNMING - Three people were found dead and one remains missing after a rain-triggered landslide struck a village in Pu'er city of Southwest China's Yunnan province in the early morning on Wednesday, according to local authorities.

The landslide hit the village in Mohei township, Ning'er county of Pu'er at around 5:40 am Wednesday. It left a total of four people unaccounted for, of whom three were found dead and one remains missing as of 10 am. One trapped individual has been rescued and taken to the hospital.

A total of 58 villagers from 23 households in the village have been relocated to safer sites. All-out search and rescue efforts are underway.

READ MORE: Northern China braces for more heavy rainfall

Level-IV emergency response

China's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) activated a Level-IV emergency response on Wednesday for geological disasters in Liaoning and Yunnan provinces.

READ MORE: China issues typhoon and rainstorm warning

Meteorological authorities forecast moderate to heavy rain across most of the two provinces over the next three days, with localized downpours or torrential rain expected in some areas.

The ministry said the heightened precipitation sharply increases the risk of landslides and mudslides, and it has ordered local authorities to conduct rapid inspections and risk screenings while intensifying real-time monitoring and early-warning systems.

China's emergency response system has four tiers, with Level I being the most severe.