Landslide in Southwest China evacuates over 1,100 residents

A landslide triggered by heavy rain struck a residential area in southwestern China on Friday, July 17, 2026, burying buildings and forcing the evacuation of more than 1,100 residents. The disaster occurred at approximately 9:08 a.m. local time in Pengshui County, Chongqing municipality, when a large volume of rock and soil swept down a mountainside, engulfing more than 10 residential buildings.

State media reported that at least 10 people have been rescued from the debris, and search and rescue operations are ongoing. Authorities have not yet released details on the number of people who remain missing or trapped. Television footage showed part of the hillside collapsing into the residential area, with rescue teams searching through rubble amid unstable ground conditions. Officials said the operation is being hampered by the risk of further landslides.

The landslide occurred near a section of the Wujiang River in a karst mountain region dotted with small towns. Images from the scene showed large slabs of rock sliding into a nearby waterway, with two damaged buildings, estimated to be between five and 15 stories high, remaining standing close to the collapse site. Social media...