CHONGQING — A landslide in southwest China's Chongqing municipality has killed at least eight people and left 34 others missing, authorities said, as rescuers continued searching through unstable debris after heavy rain triggered the collapse.
The landslide struck Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County at about 9:08 a.m. on July 17, sending an estimated 18,000 cubic meters of rock and soil down a mountainside and burying more than 10 residential buildings near the Wujiang River, according to local officials and state broadcaster CCTV.
Local authorities said 10 people had been pulled from the rubble. One has since been discharged from hospital, while the others remain in stable condition. More than 1,100 residents from nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution because of continuing risks of further slope failures.
More than 800 rescue personnel, supported by firefighters, engineers, medical teams, rescue dogs and heavy equipment, have been deployed to the site. Officials said search operations have been slowed by persistent rainfall, unstable boulders and the danger of secondary landslides in the mountainous karst terrain.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all possible efforts to locate those still missing, provide medical treatment for the injured and investigate the cause of the disaster, according to state media. He also urged authorities nationwide to strengthen inspections and disaster prevention measures to reduce risks during the current rainy season.
Authorities said more than 120 geological experts were assisting the response, while emergency teams continued monitoring the hillside for signs of additional movement. Relief supplies, including temporary shelters and other emergency materials, have been delivered to displaced residents, according to official reports.
Landslides and flash floods are common in parts of southwestern China during periods of intense rainfall, particularly in mountainous regions. Officials have attributed the Chongqing disaster to recent heavy rain, though an investigation into the exact cause remains underway.
As of Sunday, authorities said rescue efforts remained focused on locating the 34 people still unaccounted for, while monitoring weather and ground conditions that continue to complicate operations.
