BANGKOK, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- A major landslide in northern Thailand's Nan province blocked the way of more than 5,000 people living in 11 villages, reports said on Tuesday.

After the overnight landslide, villagers had to take a devious route of more than 100 km to downtown area while the normal tour is about 30 km.

The landslide heaped up more than 30,000 cubic meters of earth on a section of a highway. The four-meter earth wall blocked people's way to go into the city.

Officials have led an operation to remove the huge pile of soil since Tuesday morning, using three excavators. They said it would probably take five days to open a single traffic lane.

Affected villagers have been provided with shuttle services.

This is the second major landslide in the northern province where people are under threats of severe floods triggered by the influence of tropical storm Bebinca.

An earlier landslide at the end of July triggered by torrential downpours engulfed a family in Nan province, claiming eight lives.