At least 47 people were reportedly missing following a landslide in the eastern province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), local sources disclosed on Sunday.

The revelation was made after an evaluation of the disaster in Rubaya in North Kivu on Thursday.

Local officials also denied reports that the accident was caused by a collapse of a quarry, describing it as a natural catastrophe.

A mass of soil was detached from the mountain and swallowed up the people who were going on with their normal activities at the foot of the mountain, according to the officials.

A rescue team was rushed to the scene of the tragedy but until now, no survivor or body has been found.

Local authorities linked the landslide to deforestation in the region.