By Emmanuel Bobby
Rescue teams in southwestern China continued an urgent search on Saturday for dozens of people still missing after a massive landslide devastated a residential area in Chongqing municipality, killing at least eight people and leaving 34 others unaccounted for.
The disaster struck Friday morning in Pengshui County, a mountainous region on the outskirts of Chongqing, when a huge mass of rocks, soil, and debris broke loose from a hillside and thundered into a nearby community. The landslide buried more than 10 residential buildings, trapping families beneath the rubble and triggering one of the region’s largest emergency responses in recent months.
Authorities said at least 10 people were pulled alive from the debris and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. More than 1,100 residents have also been evacuated from surrounding neighborhoods as officials assess the stability of the area and monitor the risk of additional landslides.
Massive Boulders Crushed Homes
Images from the disaster zone revealed the enormous scale of the landslide. Huge boulders, some appearing larger than multistory buildings, crashed down the mountainside, crushing homes and scattering debris across the steep landscape.
Several buildings were nearly flattened by the force of the collapse. One structure had its upper floors completely destroyed, while another vehicle was left partially buried beneath rocks and mud. Rescue workers carefully searched through the wreckage while heavy machinery worked to clear debris from blocked access routes.
Emergency personnel have been using excavators, cranes, drones, and specialized search equipment in an effort to locate survivors trapped beneath the collapsed buildings.
Thousands of Cubic Meters of Rock and Debris
Officials said the landslide involved approximately 18,000 cubic meters of rock, earth, and debris, creating an enormous obstacle for rescue crews.
According to Wang Chuanjun, head of Planning and Natural Resources in Pengshui County, the largest individual boulder displaced during the collapse measured roughly 3,000 cubic meters, making rescue efforts significantly more dangerous.
The massive rocks now resting on the slope remain unstable, forcing emergency teams to proceed cautiously as they search for victims.
Heavy Rain Complicates Rescue Mission
Persistent rainfall has added another layer of danger to the already difficult operation.
Weather officials reported that Pengshui County received approximately 19.2 centimeters (nearly eight inches) of rainfall between Friday night and Saturday morning. The intense rainfall saturated the mountainside and created unstable conditions that increased the possibility of additional landslides.
Emergency responders temporarily slowed some rescue activities during periods of heavier rain to protect personnel from further collapses. As precipitation eased on Saturday, search teams resumed operations around collapsed homes and along the nearby riverbank.
Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions closely, fearing that renewed rainfall could trigger fresh movement of rocks and soil.
Dangerous Search Beneath Giant Rocks
Officials say the most difficult phase of the operation has yet to begin.
Rescue crews are first searching around the massive boulders for possible survivors before attempting to examine the areas directly beneath them. Working under the rocks poses serious risks because any movement could endanger both trapped victims and emergency responders.
Once surrounding searches are completed, engineers plan to drill into some of the largest boulders and place controlled explosives inside carefully prepared holes. The explosions are intended to break the enormous rocks into smaller, more manageable pieces, allowing rescue workers to continue searching underneath while reducing the risk of sudden shifts.
The operation is expected to take considerable time due to the unstable terrain and the size of the debris field.
Government Announces Emergency Relief Funding
China’s central government has pledged financial assistance to help communities recover from the disaster.
The National Development and Reform Commission announced Saturday that it had allocated 30 million yuan (approximately $4.4 million) in emergency relief funding. The money will support infrastructure repairs, restoration of public services, and recovery efforts in the affected communities.
Officials said the funding will also assist with rebuilding damaged roads, restoring utilities, and helping displaced residents return to safe living conditions once the area has been stabilized.
Mountainous Region Vulnerable to Landslides
The landslide occurred near a section of the Wujiang River, which flows through the rugged karst mountain landscape of southwestern China. The region is known for its steep cliffs, deep valleys, and scattered rural communities built along hillsides and riverbanks.
Pengshui County sits in southeastern Chongqing municipality near the borders of Hubei and Guizhou provinces. The area experiences seasonal heavy rainfall, which can weaken mountain slopes and increase the likelihood of landslides, particularly during periods of prolonged precipitation.
Geologists frequently monitor the region for signs of ground instability because its combination of mountainous terrain, fragile rock formations, and intense rainfall makes it especially susceptible to natural disasters.
Search for Survivors Continues
Emergency officials say their priority remains locating anyone who may still be trapped beneath the debris.
Hundreds of rescuers continue working around the clock despite hazardous conditions, using heavy equipment alongside manual search efforts to carefully remove rubble while minimizing the risk of additional collapses.
Authorities have not indicated how long the rescue operation will continue, but with dozens of people still missing, crews remain hopeful that additional survivors may be found as they work through the massive field of rock and debris left behind by the deadly landslide.
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