Landslide in southwestern China kills at least 8 and leaves 34 missing

By — Andy Wong, Associated Press Andy Wong, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/landslide-in-southwestern-china-kills-at-least-8-and-leaves-34-missing Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Landslide in southwestern China kills at least 8 and leaves 34 missing World Jul 17, 2026 2:16 PM EDT CHONGQING, China (AP) — A landslide Friday on the outskirts of the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing killed at least eight people and left 34 missing, burying residential buildings and forcing more than 1,100 people to evacuate, according to local officials and state media reports. The landslide occurred around 9:08 a.m. in Pengshui County on the outer edge of the Chongqing municipality, when massive amounts of rocks and soil washed downslope, burying more than 10 residential buildings, state broadcaster CCTV said. READ MORE: Typhoon Bavi makes landfall in eastern China as more than 1 million are evacuated Ten people were rescued from the debris, including two who were seriously injured, Pengshui County Mayor Ren Xujiang said. Chinese President Xi Jinping asked authorities to determine the cause of the disaster, state media said. Water, electricity and gas supplies were cut off within a 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) radius of the landslide to prevent further disruptions. Over 800 rescuers were on site, a local government statement said. Rescue workers carry a casualty as they search for survivors at the site of a landslide along Wujiang river in Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, Chongqing, China, on July 17, 2026. cnsphoto via Reuters Images by CCTV showed part of a mountainside collapsing onto a residential area. Several buildings were located next to the collapse site, while rescue crews combed through the debris. Rescue efforts were hindered by the unstable terrain and the risk of another landslide, according to the broadcaster. Images shared on social media showed orange-clad rescuers using excavators to dig through the rubble. At one point, a team of rescuers pulled a survivor out of the debris. Large slabs of rock had slid beside buildings into a waterway below. Two buildings that looked about five and 15 stories high were damaged but still standing. The rain-triggered landslide occurred near a section of the Wujiang River, which cuts through karst mountains peppered with small towns and terraces. Authorities said they sent more than 8,000 disaster relief items to Chongqing, including tents, folding beds and family emergency kits. Pengshui County is located in the southeast part of Chongqing, bordering the provinces of Hubei and Guizhou. AP video producer Wu Jia contributed to this report from Chongqing. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now