Eight killed, dozens missing after rain-triggered mountain collapse in China's Chongqing

Beijing: At least eight people have died and 34 others remain missing after a rain-induced mountain collapse struck southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Friday, burying homes and triggering a massive rescue operation, local authorities said.

According to officials, the collapse occurred along the Wujiang River in the Hanjia sub-district of Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County at around 9:10 a.m. Heavy rainfall caused a huge mass of rock and soil to crash down the mountainside, engulfing more than 10 residential buildings at its base.

Rescue teams have so far pulled 10 people to safety, while search operations are continuing to locate those still trapped or missing.

In response to the disaster, China's Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level-II national emergency response for geological disasters. The National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief also launched a Level-IV disaster relief response and dispatched a team to assess the situation and support local authorities in relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Emergency personnel are working to search for survivors, prevent further landslides and provide essential assistance to affected residents.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for scientific and well-coordinated rescue operations, urging authorities to minimise the risk of secondary disasters, ensure proper medical care for the injured and handle relief measures efficiently.

He also directed officials to investigate the cause of the mountain collapse, learn from the incident and strengthen inspections and monitoring of geological hazards to prevent similar disasters in the future.

Authorities have intensified risk assessments, early warning systems and safety inspections in vulnerable areas as rescue efforts continue.

With inputs from IANS