Tragic Landslide in Chongqing Claims 8 Lives, 34 Missing
WHO:
AP News - Chinese President Xi Jinping asked authorities to determine the cause of the disaster.
AP News - Ren Xujiang is the Mayor of Pengshui County.
WHAT:
AP News - Residents reported that local officials and communities organized an evacuation after small rocks fell and unusual sounds were heard from the hills.
AP News - The landslide happened during the evacuation, according to local newspaper Chongqing Daily.
AP News - One of the fallen rocks appeared larger than a multistory building, with ruins scattered across the steep terrain.
AP News - The landslide buried more than 10 residential buildings, with images showing part of a mountainside collapsing onto a residential area.
AP News - Rescue efforts were hindered by unstable terrain and the risk of another landslide.
AP News - Two buildings that looked about five and 15 stories high were damaged but still standing.
AP News - A landslide killed at least 8 people and left 34 missing.
AP News - The landslide buried more than 10 residential buildings.
AP News - Ten people were rescued from the debris, including two who were seriously injured.
AP News - The landslide contained about 18,000 cubic meters (636,000 cubic feet) of rocks and debris.
AP News - The largest single rock was around 3,000 cubic meters (106,000 cubic feet).
AP News - Over 1,100 people were forced to evacuate.
AP News - More than 800 rescuers worked on site.
AP News - Authorities sent more than 13,000 disaster relief items to Chongqing, including tents, folding beds, and family emergency kits.
WHERE:
AP News - The landslide occurred in Pengshui County, on the outskirts of Chongqing, China.
AP News - The landslide happened near a section of the Wujiang River.
WHEN:
AP News - The landslide occurred at around 9:08 a.m. on a Friday.
WHY:
AP News - The landslide was triggered by heavy rainfall.
AP News - Wang Chuanjun warned of persistent risk of further collapse under extreme weather conditions.
HOW:
AP News - Images shared on social media showed orange-clad rescuers using excavators to dig through the rubble.
AP News - Drones were used to conduct surveys of the landslide sites, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
AP News - Drones were used to conduct surveys of the landslide sites.
AP News - Water, electricity, and gas supplies were cut off within a 1-kilometer (0.6-mile) radius of the landslide to prevent further disruptions.
(UPDATED July 18, 2026 12:10 UTC)
Residents have reported that local officials organized an evacuation after small rocks fell and unusual sounds were heard from the hills, but during this evacuation, a significant landslide occurred, according to the Chongqing Daily. One of the fallen rocks was described as being larger than a multistory building, leaving ruins scattered across the steep terrain. Images shared on social media show orange-clad rescuers using excavators to dig through the rubble in search of survivors.
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(UPDATED July 18, 2026 10:21 UTC)
A devastating landslide has buried more than ten residential buildings, with dramatic images capturing part of a mountainside collapsing onto a neighborhood. Rescue efforts are facing challenges due to unstable terrain and the looming threat of additional landslides, although two buildings, measuring around five and fifteen stories, remain damaged but standing. To aid in the response, drones are being utilized to survey the affected areas, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
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(UPDATED July 17, 2026 22:24 UTC)
A devastating landslide in Pengshui County, on the outskirts of Chongqing, China, has resulted in at least eight fatalities and left thirty-four people missing, with over 1,100 residents evacuated from the area. The landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, buried more than ten residential buildings and contained around 18,000 cubic meters of debris, prompting a significant rescue effort involving over 800 responders and the use of drones for site surveys. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an investigation into the disaster, while authorities have dispatched more than 13,000 disaster relief items to assist those affected.