Chongqing landslide kills 11, leaves 50 missing

A mountain landslide struck Pengshui County in the Chongqing municipality of southwestern China on the morning of July 17, 2026, after torrential rain caused a slope to collapse. The disaster buried more than ten residential buildings along the Wujiang River, killing 11 people, injuring 10 and leaving 50 still missing.

State media quoted rescue officials: “After multiple rounds of life detection and search, no signs of life remain,” and added that “due to the large volume of collapsed material, the large size and number of fallen boulders, the narrow operating space, and the poor slope stability, the rescue operation is extremely difficult.” Specialized teams have deployed heavy machinery, drones and controlled explosives to clear debris and continue an “in‑depth rescue stage” search for survivors. The incident follows a recent deadly landslide in Gansu province, underscoring China’s vulnerability to such events.