Landslide in southwestern China kills at least 8 and leaves 34 missing

A devastating landslide struck Pengshui County on the outskirts of Chongqing, China, on Friday, claiming at least eight lives and leaving 34 people missing. The disaster unfolded around 9:08 a.m. when massive amounts of rock and soil cascaded downslope, engulfing more than 10 residential buildings.

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Water, electricity and gas supplies were cut off within a 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) radius of the landslide to prevent further disruptions.

Local officials and state media reported that over 1,100 residents were forced to evacuate their homes. Ten individuals were rescued from the debris, with two sustaining serious injuries. The landslide occurred near a section of the Wujiang River, cutting through the region's characteristic karst mountains.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed authorities to investigate the cause of the disaster. To prevent further complications, water, electricity, and gas supplies were severed within a 1-kilometer radius of the affected area. Over 800 rescuers are actively engaged in search and rescue operations, though their efforts are complicated by the unstable ground and the persistent threat of additional landslides.

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Over 800 rescuers were on site, a local government statement said.

Images from the scene, shared by state broadcaster CCTV and on social media, depicted rescuers using excavators to sift through the rubble. The unstable terrain and the risk of further collapses pose significant challenges to the ongoing rescue mission. Authorities have dispatched over 8,000 disaster relief items, including tents and emergency kits, to the affected region.

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Rescue efforts were hindered by the unstable terrain and the risk of another landslide, according to the broadcaster.