Landslide in Western China: At Least Eight Dead and 34 Missing in Chongqing

Xi Jinping responded to the disaster and demanded all-out efforts to search for the missing and to care for those affected. Due to the geographic conditions and the ongoing risk of further landslides, the recovery work proved difficult. Authorities and rescue teams were deployed in large numbers.

Xi Jinping Demands Unrelenting Search

The incident comes just days after another severe landslide in China. Last week, a landslide in the northwestern province of Gansu near the city of Longnan killed 21 people. The accumulation of such events casts a spotlight on the dangers posed by earth movements in the country's mountainous regions.

Second Severe Landslide Within Weeks

Chongqing is a directly administered municipality with around 30 million inhabitants and is among the most densely populated urban areas in China. Pengshui lies roughly 250 kilometers southeast of the city center in a mountainous, predominantly rural county. The region is repeatedly hit by heavy rainfall during the summer months, increasing the risk of landslides.

The Chinese government has expanded early-warning systems for geological hazards in recent years. Nevertheless, deadly disasters occur regularly in rural mountain regions, particularly during the rainy season between June and September. International observers also point to the vulnerability of settlements on steep slopes.

Difficult Conditions for Rescue Teams

Local authorities set up emergency hotlines for the relatives of the missing. Medical teams and psychological counselors were dispatched to the region to care for survivors and family members. The exact number of those buried could not be conclusively confirmed at first, as some residents were reportedly not in their homes when the debris flow struck.

Based on the experience of previous landslides, emergency services anticipated a critical phase in the first 72 hours after the disaster. Weather forecasts predicted further rainfall in the coming days, which could further complicate the search. Authorities announced they would keep the public regularly informed of new findings.