Dozens of people are missing in the worst flooding to strike China’s Sichuan province in 50 years.  The torrential rain caused landslides, one of which buried as many as 40 people.

What were once minor streams have been turned into marauding rivers of mud and debris, up over their banks and tearing buildings apart as horrified villagers are helpless to do anything but seek high ground.  One by one, buildings and bridges surrendered to the raging waters.

Rescue teams with search dogs are at the scene of the big landslide in the city of Dujiangyan, one of the places that hasn’t completely recovered from the Sichuan Earthquake in 2008. 

The problem is made worse by deforestation of the mountainous area.  The trees and plants that would have slowed the water’s rush and held the soil together are gone.  Instead, heavy rains create massive mudslides.