KATMANDU, Nepal — A major landslide early Saturday morning near Nepal’s border with China killed at least eight people and left hundreds missing, officials in Nepal said. It also washed out part of a crucial highway and blocked a river, leading to a dangerous buildup of water.

“Hundreds of people are missing and at least 40 houses are buried in the landslide,” said Ganesh Khatri Chhetri, a Nepal police spokesman. At least 16 people had been rescued, he said.

Image A cloud of dust at the site near Nepal’s border. Credit... Dinesh Gole/Associated Press

A section of the Araniko Highway, which connects Nepal with China, was swept away, and rising water around the blockage created by rubble from a crumbled hill led thousands to seek higher ground. Police and military personnel in helicopters were trying to drop explosives on the blockage in hopes of blasting a hole in it to release the river.