A community worker in Hanjia village, Pengshui district, Chongqing city, observed rocks falling from the mountainside near the village around 8h this morning. Recognizing this as a sign of a major landslide, an emergency warning was immediately issued.

Officials subsequently evacuated over 60 people from the riverside village. However, as the evacuation continued, a section of the mountain collapsed onto the village at 9h08, burying some people and homes under debris.

Rescue teams have pulled 9 people from the rubble, none of whom are in critical condition. The number of victims still trapped under the debris remains unknown.

Aerial images show debris from the mountainside cascading down onto a cluster of riverside homes, creating a thick cloud of dust.

China's Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched 100 rescue personnel to the scene. Additionally, 206 personnel and 49 vehicles from fire and rescue forces have been deployed.

The cause of the landslide has not yet been determined.

The landslide scene in Pengshui district. Photo: Xinhua

Huyen Le (via Reuters, China Daily)