Rescue crews in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing have been utilizing excavators throughout the weekend to comb through debris in hopes of finding survivors of a massive landslide. The disaster, which occurred early Friday in Pengshui County, resulted in the deaths of at least eight people, while 34 others remain missing.
The landslide was triggered by heavy rain and saw approximately 18,000 cubic meters of rock and soil cascade down a slope. The debris buried more than 10 residential buildings. According to Wang Chuanjun, the head of Planning and Natural Resources in Pengshui County, the scale of the destruction included a single boulder measuring roughly 3,000 cubic meters.
Authorities have deployed more than 120 experts to coordinate the operation. On Saturday, rescue teams—assisted by search dogs and specialized detectors—identified signs of life, confirming that at least one survivor was trapped under the rubble. However, officials noted that the recovery process is highly delicate, as reckless excavation could trigger secondary collapses among the unstable boulders.
In response to the potential for further danger, Chongqing authorities confirmed in a Sunday WeChat post that they have evacuated residents from 21 buildings located within a one-kilometer radius of the impact zone. This safety measure resulted in the relocation of over 1,100 people from slopes and low-lying areas. Regarding the victims, officials stated that one of the 10 initial survivors has been discharged from the hospital, while the remaining nine are reported to be in stable condition.
The affected area sits near the Wujiang River, a region characterized by karst mountains and terraced terrain. As of Sunday morning, rescuers were observed removing a sealed orange bag from the site, though officials did not immediately confirm if it contained a victim.
The landslide contained about 18,000 cubic meters (635,500 cubic feet) of rocks and debris, with one boulder being around 3,000 cubic meters (106,000 cubic feet), Wang Chuanjun, head of Planning and Natural Resources in Pengshui County, told reporters Friday.
