SEOUL - At least nine people were killed as a landslide hit a mountain resort in Gangwon Province, 100 kilometers east of Seoul, due to heavy downpour, local media reported Wednesday.

The accident took place midnight Tuesday when the landslide destroyed two pensions and four buildings in Chuncheon.

Most of victims were college students from Incheon's Inha University, reports said.

Some 20 people were also wounded in the accident, rescue workers were quoted as saying.

Hundreds of people and around 30 pieces of equipment have been mobilized to carry out search and rescue works as more people are estimated to be buried under the mud.

According to local media, 35 college students from Inha University and about 40 tourists were staying in the pensions destroyed by the landslide.