CHONGQING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Three of an estimated 59 people buried in a landslide in an iron ore mining area in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality have been rescued.

    They were unconscious and receiving emergency treatment in a township hospital, rescuers said.

    The landslide happened at about 3 p.m. in the Jiwei Mountain mining area, in Tiekuang Township, Wulong County. Millions of cubic meters of rock spilled a valley and buried an iron ore plant and six houses.

    Liu Qi, Communist Party chief of Wulong County, told Xinhua the area had 59 people according to an initial report from the township.

    Those trapped included 50 quarry workers, nine residents and possible passers-by.

    About 160 fire fighters, 30 medical staff, five ambulances and five excavators were at the site, said a publicity official of Wulong County.

    The landslide cut power and communications in many parts of the town.

    Bo Xilai, secretary of the Chongqing Committee of the Communist Party of China, has ordered rescue work to be carried out carefully to avoid further landslides.

    A rescue team headed by Chongqing Mayor Wang Hongju and Vice Mayor Ling Yueming is going to the site.