The death toll from the devastating landslide in Pengshui County, Chongqing has climbed to 51, with 10 people still missing, making it the deadliest landslide in China in more than a decade.
The disaster struck on July 17, when a massive collapse of rocks and earth buried more than 10 residential buildings and a minibus along the banks of the Wujiang River. Authorities had evacuated around 1,100 residents earlier that day after spotting warning signs, but dozens were trapped under nearly 18,000 cubic meters of debris.
Rescue operations remain underway, with teams deploying divers and underwater robotic equipment to search the river for those unaccounted for. Officials confirmed 10 injuries, three of whom have been discharged from the hospital. Efforts are also being made to restore normal traffic in the affected area.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged all possible efforts to locate the missing, assist survivors, and strengthen disaster‑prevention measures. The catastrophe highlights the growing risks posed by the summer rainy season in southwest China, where persistent rainfall destabilises mountain slopes, increasing the likelihood of landslides and flash floods.
