China Landslide Death Toll Climbs To 11, Rescue Hopes Fade For Missing

The death toll from a devastating landslide in southwestern China’s Chongqing municipality has risen to 11, while rescuers continue searching for 50 people still missing under massive debris, local authorities said. Officials said repeated search operations have found "no signs of life" so far, as emergency teams face difficult conditions while working through collapsed earth and rocks. The landslide occurred last Friday in Pengshui County, sweeping away several residential buildings located at the foot of a mountain and near a riverbank.

The disaster caused extensive damage in the area, with state media footage showing a large section of earth and rocks covering a residential and commercial street. Hundreds of rescue workers have been deployed to the site as authorities continue efforts to locate missing residents. However, officials said the rescue operation has been extremely challenging due to the scale of the collapse, unstable slopes and the difficult terrain surrounding the affected area. "Following multiple rounds of life detection and search operations, no signs of life have been detected," Pengshui authorities said in a statement shared on social media late Thursday.

They added that specialist teams were continuing operations to search for possible survivors and recover remains in a systematic manner. Authorities said the volume of debris, the presence of large fallen boulders and limited working space at the site had slowed rescue efforts. The unstable condition of the surrounding slopes has also created additional risks for emergency personnel working in the affected area. Rescue teams have been operating around the clock while taking precautions to prevent further accidents. At least 10 people were injured in the landslide, according to local officials.

Also Read: Chongqing Landslide Kills 8, Leaves 34 Missing As Rescue Operations Continue In China

Earlier reports had put the number of confirmed deaths at eight and the missing figure at 34, but the toll increased as rescue teams continued their search and assessed the extent of the destruction. The incident has once again highlighted the risks posed by landslides in mountainous regions of China, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. Authorities have frequently warned about geological hazards in areas with steep terrain, where unstable slopes can lead to sudden collapsions affecting communities located nearby. The Chongqing landslide comes less than two weeks after another major landslide in northwestern China’s Gansu province, where 33 people were buried and 21 deaths were reported.

The back-to-back disasters have raised concerns over emergency preparedness and monitoring systems in areas vulnerable to geological disasters. Chinese authorities have continued to prioritise rescue and recovery operations while assessing the damage caused by the Pengshui landslide. As search efforts continue, officials are expected to provide further updates on the missing people, the recovery operation and measures being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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