BEIJING : The death toll from a devastating landslide in southeastern China’s Chongqing municipality has risen to 51, with at least 10 people still unaccounted for, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The massive landslide struck Pingshui County on July 17, sending a torrent of rock and earth down a riverside hillside and reducing several residential buildings and commercial centers to rubble. Footage broadcast by Chinese state media showed the sheer scale of the destruction, with large boulders and debris overwhelming structures along the slope.
According to the AFP news agency, local administration and government officials reported that 50 bodies have been recovered so far, with one additional fatality confirmed subsequently, bringing the total to 51. Search and rescue operations are continuing for the remaining 10 missing persons.
In response to the disaster, authorities successfully evacuated 1,100 residents from the affected area. Rescue teams pulled 10 survivors from the wreckage, three of whom required hospitalization for medical treatment. A massive multi-agency operation has been underway since the incident, with 1,010 rescue workers deployed to the site, according to official statements.
However, officials acknowledged that rescue teams have encountered severe difficulties during the operation, particularly in moving heavy machinery through the treacherous terrain, which has hampered efforts to reach all affected areas. Earlier reports indicated that rescuers had feared there was little chance of finding additional survivors at the site.
Local authorities have pledged to continue coordinating with the families of victims, providing relief and assistance, and stated that the recovery process is proceeding according to standard procedures.
The Chongqing tragedy follows another deadly landslide in China’s Gansu province, where 33 people were buried under debris and 21 were confirmed dead, underscoring the heightened landslide risks in the country’s mountainous regions during the rainy season.
