Chongqing landslide leaves 8 dead and 34 missing

On 17 July 2024 a rain‑triggered landslide struck Pengshui County in the southwestern Chinese municipality of Chongqing, burying residential buildings near the Wujiang River. Eight people were confirmed dead and 34 remained missing while more than 1,100 residents were evacuated from the affected area.

Rescue operations involved hundreds of fire, police, medical and heavy‑equipment crews, the use of explosives to break a massive boulder, and the deployment of over 120 experts. The central government earmarked 50 million yuan for emergency relief and dispatched national rescue teams, including specialized mine and tunnel units. Chinese satellite‑observation centres task‑shifted multiple satellites to image the disaster zone, providing eight new images to support response planning. Local volunteers organized motorcycle convoys that queued to deliver food, water and supplies to makeshift shelters, while community kitchens prepared thousands of meals for displaced residents. Authorities continue to monitor the slope for secondary collapse risks and to search for surviving victims.