A devastating landslide in southwest China’s Chongqing killed eight people, left 34 missing, and prompted President Xi Jinping to order urgent nationwide geological hazard inspections.
WEBDESK – MEDIABITES
A devastating landslide in southwest China has claimed at least eight lives and left dozens of people missing, prompting a massive rescue operation and renewed concerns over geological disasters during the country’s rainy season.
The landslide struck around 9:10 a.m. local time on Friday in Pengshui County, part of Chongqing municipality, burying sections of a residential and commercial area beneath tons of rock and earth. Authorities said at least 34 people remained missing as emergency crews raced against time to locate survivors trapped under the debris.
According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, more than 800 emergency personnel, including firefighters, rescue workers, and medical teams, were deployed to the disaster zone. Heavy machinery was brought in to clear rubble while specialized search teams continued combing the affected area for signs of life.
Pengshui County official Ren Xujiang said rescue teams managed to pull 18 people from the debris. Eight of those rescued were later confirmed dead, while efforts continued to find the remaining missing residents.
Television footage showed a massive wall of mud, rocks, and debris cascading down a mountainside, swallowing buildings, roads, and vehicles within seconds. Other videos captured terrified residents running for safety as thick clouds of dust engulfed the surrounding neighborhood.
Officials warned that unstable rocks and loose soil continued to threaten the rescue operation, forcing emergency teams to proceed cautiously to avoid triggering additional collapses. Authorities also evacuated nearby residents from high-risk areas as a precaution.
In response to the disaster, the Chinese government allocated 50 million yuan (approximately US$7 million) in emergency relief funding. The financial assistance will support search-and-rescue efforts, provide aid to displaced families, and help begin recovery and reconstruction work.
President Xi Jinping ordered authorities to make every possible effort to rescue those trapped and treat the injured. He also directed officials across the country to intensify inspections of geological hazards, identify vulnerable locations, and eliminate potential risks to prevent similar disasters.
The tragedy comes less than two weeks after another deadly landslide struck Gansu province in northwestern China, where 21 people were killed after 33 were buried under debris. The back-to-back disasters have heightened concerns about landslide risks across China’s mountainous regions, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and increasingly extreme weather.
China experiences frequent landslides, floods, and other natural disasters during the summer monsoon season. Experts say rapid urban development in mountainous terrain, combined with intense rainfall, has increased the vulnerability of many communities, making early warning systems and hazard monitoring increasingly critical.
Rescue operations in Chongqing were continuing late Friday, with officials saying every effort was being made to locate the missing despite dangerous ground conditions and the persistent threat of further landslides.
