China landslide: Rescuers use explosives to free boulders trapping victims

Rescuers in southwestern China deployed explosives on Monday to clear heavy boulders that have been hampering efforts to reach 34 people missing for three days following a landslide. The disaster struck during torrential rain in Penghui county, approximately 270 km from the urban center of Chongqing.

Eight people died in Friday's landslide, which occurred in an area known for its natural beauty. Television images broadcast by state broadcaster CCTV showed a massive boulder being shattered during Monday's operation. The mission has entered a "deep rescue phase," according to CCTV, though further details were not immediately available.

The rescue operation follows President Xi Jinping's directive for scientific search and rescue efforts and a prompt investigation into the landslide's origins. Authorities had already evacuated over 1,100 residents from Penghui county, home to about 500,000 people, many of whom live on steep hillsides along the Wujian River.

Following the landslide, video footage depicted a section of the collapsed mountainside tumbling into the river, blocking the main street of the narrow, hillside township. Authorities are investigating potential hidden geological dangers and monitoring the risk of secondary disasters, as reported by the official Xinhua news agency on Saturday. With heavy to torrential rain forecast through Monday across several provinces, officials have urged enhanced safeguards in high-risk areas susceptible to groundwater saturation and intensive construction.