Landslide in Southwestern China Kills 8, Leaves 34 Missing

m. Friday, killing at least eight people and leaving 34 missing after burying more than 10 residential buildings. The slide sent roughly 18,000 cubic meters of rock and soil downslope, including one boulder measuring about 3,000 cubic meters, according to Wang Chuanjun, head of planning and natural resources for the county.

Ten people were pulled from the debris, two of them seriously injured, Pengshui County Mayor Ren Xujiang said. More than 1,100 residents had already begun moving to safety after small rocks began falling and strange sounds came from the hillsides, local officials told Chongqing Daily. The main collapse occurred while the evacuation was underway.

Over 800 rescuers searched the site with excavators and drones. Water, electricity and gas were shut off within a one-kilometer radius. Authorities dispatched more than 13,000 tents, beds and emergency kits to the area.

Chinese President Xi Jinping directed local authorities to determine the cause. Wang Chuanjun warned that unstable rock masses remain on the cliff face and could give way again during heavy rain or prolonged hot weather. Pengshui County sits in southeastern Chongqing near the Wujiang River and borders Hubei and Guizhou provinces.