Chongqing landslide buries homes, 1,100 evacuated as rescuers race on

Beijing,UPDATED: Jul 17, 2026 17:14 IST

A landslide in China’s southwestern city of Chongqing on Friday buried residential buildings, forced more than 1,100 people to evacuate and left others trapped, according to state media. Search and rescue operations were under way, with at least 10 people pulled out of the debris, state broadcaster CCTV said.

The landslide took place at about 9.08 am in Pengshui County, where large amounts of rocks and soil came crashing down a slope and buried more than 10 residential buildings. Rescue work was continuing, but unstable ground and the risk of another landslide were making the operation difficult, the broadcaster said.

Images shown by CCTV captured part of a mountainside collapsing onto a residential area, with several buildings standing close to the affected site as rescue teams searched through the debris. Pictures shared on social media showed rescuers in orange uniforms using excavators to clear rubble, while one team was seen pulling a victim out.

Large slabs of rock had also slid past buildings into a waterway below. Two damaged buildings, appearing to be about five and 15 storeys high, were still standing. The rain-triggered landslide happened near a stretch of the Wujiang River, which passes through karst mountains dotted with small towns and terraced land.

Authorities said more than 8,000 disaster relief items, including tents, folding beds and family emergency kits, had been sent to Chongqing. Several power poles were buried, affecting electricity supply. Officials also suspended water, electricity and gas services within a 1-km radius of the landslide site to prevent further disruption. Overall, the landslide in Pengshui County caused heavy damage, disrupted essential services and triggered a large rescue and relief response.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends