China troops blast landslide dam as death toll rises

Troops have begun blasting through rubble from a landslide blocking a river in western China, in an attempt to prevent further floods.

Torrential rain caused the landslides which hit Zhouqu county in Gansu province on Sunday. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has been to the area to see the rescue effort.

On Monday, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported that the death toll from the tragedy had risen to 337, with 1,148 people still missing.

Michael Bristow reports from Beijing.