Flood waters sweep through Beichuan, China. (AFP)

Beijing, July 10 (AP): Flooding in western China, the worst in 50 years for some areas, has triggered a landslide that buried up to 40 people and destroyed a memorial to a devastating 2008 earthquake.

There was no word on the chances of survival for the 30 to 40 people buried in Dujiangyan, but rescue workers with search dogs had rushed to the area, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

In nearby Beichuan county, flooding destroyed buildings and destroyed exhibits at a memorial for the earthquake five years ago in Sichuan province that left 90,000 people dead or missing. The quake left the Beichuan county seat unliveable. The flooding also caused the collapse of an almost 50-year-old bridge in a neighbouring county, sending six vehicles into the raging waters and leaving 12 people missing.