Chongqing landslide kills eight as 34 remain missing after homes buried

Beijing,UPDATED: Jul 17, 2026 20:46 IST

A landslide in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing on Friday killed eight people and left 34 missing after burying residential buildings, according to state media. More than 1,100 people were evacuated from the area, while rescue teams searched through the debris.

Ten people were pulled out alive, including two who were seriously injured, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. Authorities also cut water, electricity and gas supplies within a 1-km radius of the site to prevent further disruption.

The landslide took place at around 9.08 am in Pengshui County, when a large mass of rocks and soil rushed downhill and buried more than 10 residential buildings, state broadcaster CCTV said. More than 800 rescuers were deployed at the site.

Images shown by CCTV captured part of a mountainside collapsing onto a residential area, with several buildings standing close to the site. Rescue workers were seen combing through the debris, while images shared on social media showed teams in orange uniforms using excavators to clear rubble. In one instance, rescuers pulled a survivor from the debris. The broadcaster said the rescue work was being hampered by unstable ground and the risk of another landslide.

Large slabs of rock had slid beside buildings into a waterway below. Two damaged buildings, appearing to be around five and 15 storeys high, were still standing. The rain-triggered landslide happened near a section of the Wujiang River, which runs through karst mountains dotted with small towns and terraces. Authorities said more than 8,000 relief items, including tents, folding beds and family emergency kits, had been sent to Chongqing. The landslide in Pengshui County left eight dead, 34 missing and more than 1,100 evacuated as rescue efforts continued.

With PTI Inputs

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