Rescue teams in southwestern China continued searching through massive piles of rubble on Sunday after a landslide in Chongqing killed at least eight people and left 34 others missing. Emergency workers used excavators and specialised equipment to search for survivors after large amounts of rocks and soil swept down a hillside early Friday, burying more than 10 residential buildings in Pengshui County on the outskirts of Chongqing.

Authorities said the landslide struck following heavy rainfall near a section of the Wujiang River, an area surrounded by karst mountains, small settlements, and agricultural terraces. The disaster buried homes and caused widespread damage in the affected area. Rescue teams have been working carefully due to concerns that unstable debris and large rocks could trigger further collapses during excavation efforts.

On Sunday morning, rescuers were seen carrying a sealed orange bag away from the disaster site, though authorities did not immediately confirm whether a victim had been recovered. Earlier, rescue teams using search dogs and detection equipment found signs of life beneath the debris, confirming that at least one person remained trapped. Officials said rescue operations required detailed planning to avoid putting both survivors and emergency workers at additional risk.

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The landslide involved around 18,000 cubic metres of rocks and debris, including a massive boulder estimated to measure about 3,000 cubic metres. More than 120 experts have been sent to assist with the rescue operation, including specialists helping assess the stability of the site. Authorities said eight people recovered from the rubble had died, while 10 survivors were rescued, with one discharged from hospital and nine reported to be in stable condition.

Officials have evacuated residents from buildings located in areas considered at risk following the disaster. According to local authorities, more than 1,100 people were relocated from 21 buildings within a one-kilometre radius of the impact zone. Pengshui County, located in southeastern Chongqing near the borders of Hubei and Guizhou provinces, remains under close monitoring as rescue teams continue searching for missing residents.

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