KATHMANDU — A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall buried six villages in Nepal's mountainous northeast, and at least 15 people sleeping in the homes are believed to have been killed and another 12 are missing, an official said Thursday. The landslide hit during the night in Taplejung district, about 500 kms (310 miles) east of the capital, Kathmandu, said government administrator Surendra Bhattarai. At least 15 people are feared dead and 12 people are missing, but details are sketchy because of the remoteness of the area. It takes several hours on mountain trails to reach the villages. Landslides are common in mountainous Nepal during the rainy monsoon season, which began in June and ends in September. The Himalayan nation is still recovering from earthquakes in April and May that killed more than 8,700 people and caused massive damage, with many of the roads cut off by landslides. — AP
