Landslide in western China kills at least eight, dozens still missing

Rescue teams continued working through the night, with authorities saying the number of missing — listed at 34 as of late Friday — could be revised as search operations progress. No information on possible foreign nationals among the victims was immediately available. The full extent of the damage to homes and infrastructure in Pengshui was also still being assessed.

The landslide comes during a period of intense summer weather across much of China, which has experienced repeated flooding and geological disasters in recent weeks. Local authorities urged residents in nearby villages to remain alert for possible further slope movement and to follow evacuation orders.

Rescue operation and government response

Xinhua, China's state news agency, carried initial reports of the disaster, and CCTV provided live updates on the deployment of rescue personnel. International media outlets relayed the official figures as they were released.

Among the officials monitoring the response was Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to state media. The Chinese leader called for an all-out effort to search for survivors and to resettle displaced residents, Xinhua reported.

Geologists note that the karst and sedimentary rock formations common in parts of western China are particularly vulnerable to landslides after heavy rainfall, which has been reported in the region in recent days. Local meteorological data was not immediately available for comment.

Risks in western China's terrain

Residents who were evacuated described a sudden rumble as the hillside gave way, with stones and earth cascading onto roads and homes below. The sound, witnesses said, was heard several minutes before the main collapse arrived, giving some families time to flee.

By early Saturday morning, rescue teams using heavy equipment and sniffer dogs were still searching the debris field. Hospitals in Pengshui and the broader Chongqing municipality were placed on standby to receive any additional survivors.

Authorities have not yet released a definitive figure for the number of homes destroyed or damaged. The Ministry of Emergency Management said it had dispatched a working group to the site to coordinate the response alongside provincial and local officials.