China intensifies landslide rescue as explosives deployed to reach missing victims

Monday 20 July 2026 - 08:45

By: Sahili Aya

China intensifies landslide rescue as explosives deployed to reach missing victims

Chinese rescue teams have escalated search operations in southwestern China, using controlled explosives to remove massive boulders blocking access to dozens of people who remain missing after a deadly landslide triggered by torrential rainfall.

The operation entered its third day on Monday as emergency responders raced against time in challenging terrain following one of the latest natural disasters to strike the country's flood-prone southwest.

Explosives used to clear rescue routes

Authorities reported that 34 people remain missing after the landslide buried parts of Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, located about 270 kilometers from the urban center of Chongqing.

Rescue crews have encountered enormous rocks and unstable debris that have severely slowed access to the affected area. To overcome these obstacles, emergency teams carried out controlled blasting operations aimed at creating safe routes for heavy machinery and search personnel.

The difficult terrain and continuing geological instability have complicated efforts to locate survivors.

Fatalities confirmed after torrential rainfall

The landslide, triggered by intense rainfall on Friday, has already claimed at least eight lives, according to authorities.

The disaster struck a mountainous region renowned for its dramatic landscapes and natural scenery, where steep slopes become particularly vulnerable during periods of prolonged heavy rain.

Emergency services continue to search the debris while monitoring the area for additional ground movement that could endanger rescue personnel.

China faces recurring landslide risks

China is among the countries most exposed to landslides due to its mountainous geography, seasonal monsoon rains and increasingly frequent episodes of extreme weather.

Every year, heavy rainfall triggers landslides and flash floods across several provinces, particularly in southwestern regions where rugged terrain and densely populated valleys increase the risk to communities.

Authorities regularly deploy specialized rescue units, engineering teams and heavy equipment to respond to such disasters, while weather agencies continue to monitor rainfall patterns that could lead to further geological hazards.

The latest emergency highlights the ongoing challenges China faces in protecting vulnerable communities from weather-related disasters as rescue operations continue in the hope of locating those still missing.