China: Landslide buries buildings, traps people in southwest

Beijing activates a Level 2 national emergency response as heavy rainfall triggers a major landslide in Pengshui county

China launched a large-scale rescue operation after a landslide struck Pengshui County in Chongqing municipality on 17 July, burying part of a residential area and trapping an unknown number of people.

The geological disaster saw massive amounts of rock and soil wash downslope at 9:08 a.m. Friday, burying more than 10 residential buildings, leaving local residents trapped and unaccounted for.

Several buildings were located next to the collapse site, while rescue crews were seen searching through the debris.