A landslide swept through a street in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing on Friday morning, killing at least eight people and leaving 34 unaccounted for. The deluge of rocks and soil inundated more than 10 residential buildings.
Video footage captured the moment a large volume of debris cascaded down a mountainside, engulfing the street below and sending terrified onlookers scrambling for safety amidst a thick cloud of dust. In some images, a single rock appeared larger than a multi-story building, with debris scattered across the steep terrain. One damaged building showed its upper section crushed, and a car was partially buried near another structure.
Officials stated that approximately 18,000 cubic meters of rocks and debris were involved in the landslide, with the largest single rock estimated at 3,000 cubic meters. Ten individuals were rescued and transported to a hospital, while more than 1,100 residents have been relocated from the affected area.
Persistent rainfall in Pengshui County from Friday night into Saturday morning, with one weather station recording 8 inches of precipitation, contributed to the unstable conditions. The challenging weather complicated rescue efforts.
As the rain subsided, rescue teams began on-the-ground inspections of the collapsed structures and riverbank areas. Their operations involve searching the surrounding areas and later attempting to break apart the large boulders with explosives, a task that carries risks of further instability.
China's National Development and Reform Commission allocated a relief fund of 30 million yuan (approximately $4.4 million) on Saturday to aid in the restoration of infrastructure and public services impacted by the disaster. The landslide occurred near the Wujiang River in Pengshui County, a region characterized by karst mountains, small towns, and agricultural terraces. Pengshui County is situated in the southeastern part of Chongqing, bordering Hubei and Guizhou provinces.