Rescuers stand at the site of a landslide in Zhongyang County of Lvliang in North China's Shanxiprovince, November 16, 2009.[Xinhua]

The death toll rose to 12 as nine more bodies have been recovered after a massive landslide in North China's Shanxi province Monday, rescuers said.

Another 11 people were believed still buried under the debris after the landslide swept over five homes at about 10:40 a.m. in Zhangzishan Township, Zhongyang County of Lvliang.

Two have been pulled out alive, said Nie Chunyu, Party chief of Lvliang City, who was supervising the rescue operation.

The victims were migrant workers at a nearby coal mine and their families. All were natives of Yunnan province in southwest China, said Nie.

More than 300 rescuers are working to locate the missing people. Emergency medical teams at the scene are ready to treat any potential survivors.

Some work safety experts have been sent to nearby hills to guard against potential secondary disasters.

Officials with the local work safety watchdog and public security authorities are investigating the accident.

Rescuers work at the site of a landslide in Zhongyang County of Lvliang in North China's Shanxi province, November 16, 2009.[Xinhua]