A landslide in a village in Chongqing, located in the southwestern region of China, has left 8 people dead and 34 missing so far.

The landslide occurred around 9:10 a.m. on July 17 (local time) near the Wujiang No. 3 Bridge in Hanjia Subdistrict, Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, Chongqing.

Videos shared on Chinese social media show rocks and soil suddenly collapsing from the hillside, sweeping down to cover the streets, as well as people fleeing from the smoke and debris.

According to authorities in Chongqing, 18 people have been rescued from the site, but 8 of them have died, and 34 remain missing.

Recent heavy rainfall is being cited as the cause, as it weakened the ground.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued instructions, stating, "A landslide has occurred in Pengshui County, Chongqing, leaving many people missing." He added, "We must scientifically organize search and rescue operations, prevent secondary disasters, and identify the causes to eliminate potential risks such as geological hazards."

Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, along with officials from relevant departments, has been dispatched to the site to oversee rescue and recovery efforts.

However, as rain has continued to fall since the landslide, concerns are being raised about the possibility of additional collapses and secondary damage.

Local authorities have completely cut off water, electricity, and gas supplies within a 1-kilometer radius of the disaster site to prevent further accidents.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)