Key facts
- Rescuers in southwestern China used explosives to clear boulders.
- 34 people are missing after a landslide in Penghui county.
- The landslide occurred during torrential rainfall.
- Eight people have died in the disaster.
- Over 1,100 people were evacuated.
- Authorities are investigating geological dangers and monitoring for secondary disasters.
Rescuers in southwestern China employed explosives on Monday to dislodge massive boulders that were obstructing efforts to reach 34 individuals reported missing for three days following a landslide. The disaster occurred during torrential rainfall in Penghui county, part of the Chongqing municipality, an area known for its natural beauty and susceptibility to landslides.
State broadcaster CCTV showed footage of a large boulder being shattered by the blasting operation, indicating the mission had entered a "deep rescue phase." The landslide, which resulted in eight fatalities on Friday, prompted President Xi Jinping to call for scientific search and rescue methods and a swift investigation into the cause.
Authorities had evacuated over 1,100 residents from the county, which is home to approximately 500,000 people and features communities situated on steep hillsides along the Wujian river. Images captured in the aftermath depicted a section of the collapsed mountainside cascading into the river, consequently blocking the main street of the town.
Teams have been dispatched to identify potential geological hazards and monitor for the risk of secondary disasters, according to the official news agency Xinhua. With heavy to torrential rain anticipated across several provinces through Monday, authorities have urged for enhanced safety measures in high-risk zones, particularly those affected by abundant groundwater. Several rivers in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Anhui, and Shanghai have already surpassed flood warning levels.
China's vulnerability to landslides is attributed to a combination of intense summer rainfall, rapid urbanization, construction activities, and frequent tectonic activity, with mountainous terrain covering two-thirds of the country's landmass. Over the past decade, at least five major landslides have resulted in approximately 294 deaths nationwide.