The death toll from the devastating landslide that struck southwestern China earlier this month has climbed to 51, according to local officials. As recovery efforts continue, authorities confirmed on Thursday that 10 individuals remain unaccounted for following the tragedy, which took place in Pengshui County, Chongqing, on July 17.
The incident caused widespread destruction when a massive volume of earth and rock gave way, burying residential and commercial buildings situated along a riverbank and at the base of the mountain. Reports that over 1,100 residents were successfully evacuated from the danger zone in the immediate aftermath of the collapse. While 10 people were pulled from the wreckage, three of whom required brief hospital treatment, the window for finding survivors has since closed, with rescue teams noting last week that no further signs of life had been detected.
Mounting an exhaustive search and recovery operation proved to be a grueling test for emergency services. Over 1,080 personnel were deployed to the site, working tirelessly over the course of 325 hours. The environment presented significant hazards, including extreme heat, restricted spaces, and the daunting task of navigating unstable, massive boulders and complex elevation changes. To aid the recovery, specialized teams utilized underwater robots and divers to comb the nearby river, while heavy machinery and controlled blasting were employed to shift more than 330,000 cubic metres of debris.
While the physical search phase concludes, officials note that the recovery process is shifting toward stabilization and support. Authorities are currently coordinating assistance for the bereaved families, managing resettlement efforts, and organizing the broader post-disaster recovery plan to ensure the community can eventually find some sense of normalcy.
This tragedy marks a somber period for the region, coming less than a fortnight after a separate landslide in the northwestern province of Gansu claimed 21 lives and left 33 others buried.
