The landslide happened around 9:10 a.m. local time in Chongqing's Pengshui County, with more than 800 rescuers deployed to the site, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
County leader Ren Xujiang told a press conference that 18 people who were trapped were rescued. Among those, eight were pronounced dead.
Footage shared by CCTV showed a huge buildup of rocks and dirt covering part of a residential and commercial street at the bottom of a mountain in the region.
Clips also aired by the broadcaster showed people yelling and running away from a cloud of dust.
Rescue workers search for survivors at the site of a landslide in Pengshui County in Chongqing, China, on July 17, 2026. Photo by AFP
