At least 13 people were buried alive and five others injured as a passenger van came under a big landslide in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir on Saturday.

Local agencies said the mishap occurred at14:30 local time in a village near Rawalakot, some 60 km northeast of Pakistani capital city of Islamabad, as a rain-triggered landslide hit the wagon.

Reports say the death toll might rise as there were some 18 passengers aboard the minibus.

A squad of volunteers and police have launched rescue operation on the spot.

Landslides are common in northern Pakistan's hilly areas where an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale in October 2005 killed over 73,000 people and left some 3.5 million displaced.

AS/AVA