Tragic Landslide in Chongqing: Eight Confirmed Dead and Dozens Missing

A tragic landslide in Chongqing, China, has led to eight confirmed deaths and 34 individuals missing. The disaster buried residential buildings and forced over 1,100 people to evacuate. Rescue teams have managed to save ten people, but challenges persist due to unstable terrain. Authorities are providing disaster relief items to affected residents. This incident highlights the dangers posed by heavy rainfall in mountainous regions. Read on for more details about the rescue efforts and the impact on the local community.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 17, 2026, 21:45 IST

Landslide Devastates Chongqing

Beijing: A devastating landslide struck the city of Chongqing in southwestern China on Friday, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals and leaving 34 others unaccounted for. The incident buried several residential structures and prompted the evacuation of over 1,100 residents, according to reports from state media.

Rescue operations managed to save ten people from the rubble, with two suffering serious injuries, as reported by the state-run Xinhua News Agency.

The landslide occurred around 9:08 AM in Pengshui County, where a significant amount of earth and rocks cascaded down, engulfing more than ten residential buildings, as detailed by state broadcaster CCTV.

In response to the disaster, authorities cut off water, electricity, and gas supplies within a one-kilometer radius to mitigate further risks. More than 800 rescue personnel were deployed to the scene.

CCTV footage captured the moment a mountainside collapsed onto a residential area, with several buildings situated perilously close to the site of the landslide. Rescue teams faced challenges due to unstable ground conditions and the threat of additional landslides.

Social media images depicted rescuers in orange uniforms operating excavators to sift through the debris, with one team successfully extracting a survivor.

Large boulders had tumbled beside buildings into a nearby waterway, while two structures, approximately five and fifteen stories tall, sustained damage yet remained upright.

The landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, occurred near the Wujiang River, which flows through karst mountains dotted with small towns and terraced fields.

In response to the crisis, authorities dispatched over 8,000 disaster relief items to Chongqing, including tents, folding beds, and emergency kits for families.

Pengshui County is situated in the southeastern region of Chongqing, adjacent to the provinces of Hubei and Guizhou.