BEIJING — At least eight people have died and 34 remain missing after a massive landslide struck Pengshui County in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality on Friday, triggering a major rescue operation and forcing the evacuation of more than 1,000 residents.
Chinese authorities said the landslide occurred at approximately 9:08 a.m. local time, collapsing several residential buildings located at the foot of a hillside.
According to local officials, a community worker had noticed falling rocks around 8:00 a.m. and issued an emergency warning, prompting authorities to begin evacuating more than 60 residents. However, the landslide struck while the evacuation was still underway.
The disaster left at least 10 people injured, including two in critical condition and two others seriously injured, officials said during a press briefing on Friday.
President Xi Jinping directed authorities to intensify search and rescue efforts for those still trapped or missing and ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the landslide.
The collapse also prompted the evacuation of more than 1,000 residents from neighbouring communities as authorities assessed the risk of further ground movement.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level II emergency response, deploying a 100-member rescue team to the disaster area. In addition, 206 firefighters and rescue personnel, supported by 49 emergency vehicles, were dispatched to assist with search and recovery operations.
State broadcaster CCTV aired aerial footage showing tonnes of rock and earth cascading down a mountainside onto riverside homes, sending thick clouds of dust into the air as residents fled to safety.
Separately, a dashcam video circulating on social media and verified by Reuters captured the dramatic moment part of the hillside collapsed onto homes and businesses below, scattering debris across a roadway and forcing motorists to stop abruptly.
The cause of the landslide has not yet been determined, and investigations are continuing.
Emergency crews remained at the scene late Friday, searching through debris in the hope of locating survivors while authorities monitored the stability of the surrounding hillside.
Source: Reuters
