Chongqing Landslide Kills 8, Leaves 34 Missing As Rescue Operations Continue In China
Chongqing landslide kills eight, dozens remain missing.
A landslide in Pengshui County on the outskirts of southwestern China’s Chongqing municipality killed at least eight people and left 34 others missing on Friday, according to local officials and state media reports. The disaster occurred after a massive amount of rocks and soil collapsed down a slope, burying several residential buildings and forcing more than 1,100 residents to evacuate. The landslide struck around 9:08 am in Pengshui County, located on the outer edge of Chongqing municipality.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that the collapse buried more than 10 residential buildings as debris swept through the area. Emergency teams immediately launched rescue operations as authorities searched through the rubble for survivors and missing residents. Pengshui County Mayor Ren Xujiang said 10 people were rescued from the debris, including two individuals who suffered serious injuries. Officials continued rescue and recovery efforts as families awaited information about those still unaccounted for following the disaster.
According to Wang Chuanjun, head of Planning and Natural Resources in Pengshui County, the landslide involved approximately 18,000 cubic metres (around 636,000 cubic feet) of rocks and debris. He said the largest individual rock involved in the collapse measured nearly 3,000 cubic metres (about 106,000 cubic feet), highlighting the scale of the geological event. Authorities warned that the area could remain at risk of additional collapses.
Also Read: Southwest China Landslide Buries Homes, Triggers Mass Evacuation Of Residents
Wang said expert inspections found unstable rock formations scattered along the top and sides of the steep cliff, creating the possibility of further landslides, particularly during extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfall or prolonged periods of hot and dry weather. Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed authorities to investigate the cause of the landslide and ensure that rescue and relief operations are carried out effectively, state media reported.
Officials have been instructed to prioritise saving lives, assisting affected residents and preventing further casualties. More than 800 rescuers, including emergency response teams and local personnel, were deployed to the affected area to carry out search and rescue operations. Authorities also cut off water, electricity and gas supplies within a one-kilometre radius of the landslide site as a precautionary measure to prevent additional risks and damage.
Natural disasters such as landslides are a recurring concern in parts of China, especially in mountainous regions where heavy rainfall, geological conditions and human activity can increase the risk of slope failures. Chongqing, located in a mountainous area along the Yangtze River basin, has experienced similar geological hazards in the past. Officials said rescue operations would continue while experts monitor the stability of the surrounding terrain. The focus remains on locating missing residents, providing assistance to evacuated families and assessing the long-term safety risks in the affected area.
Also Read: Delhi May Make Rainwater Harvesting Mandatory For New Borewell Drilling
