Beijing: At least eight people have died and 34 others remain missing after a rain-triggered landslide buried residential buildings in Pengshui County of southwest China’s Chongqing municipality, authorities said. More than 1,100 residents have been evacuated from the affected area as rescue operations continue.
The landslide struck on Friday morning, sending rocks and mud crashing down a mountainside and burying more than 10 residential buildings. Rescue teams have pulled 18 people from the debris, including 10 survivors, while search efforts continue for those still trapped.
Hundreds of rescue personnel, including firefighters, military personnel and emergency responders, have been deployed with bulldozers, drones and sniffer dogs to search the unstable site. Water, electricity and gas supplies have been suspended in the affected area to prevent further hazards.
Authorities have warned of continued heavy rainfall and the risk of additional landslides, prompting evacuations from nearby villages. Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed officials to intensify rescue efforts and investigate the cause of the disaster.
The latest disaster comes just weeks after a deadly landslide in Gansu province claimed 21 lives, raising fresh concerns over the impact of extreme weather in China.
