Archive · 20 Jul 2026
China Uses Explosives to Rescue Landslide Victims
In China, a big landslide happened on Friday in a place called Penghui County.
It was caused by very heavy rain.
Thirty-four people are missing, and rescuers are trying to find them.
On Monday, they used explosives to break big rocks that were blocking their way.
The area is very hilly and has many rivers.
The government is also checking for more dangers and making sure people are safe.
This kind of disaster happens often in China because of the weather, the land, and lots of building.
In the past ten years, about 294 people have died in landslides.
The worst one was in 2015 in Shenzhen, where more than 70 people died.
Rescue teams used explosives to clear boulders blocking access to 34 missing people after a landslide in Penghui County, Chongqing.
The landslide occurred on Friday, July 17, 2024, during heavy rain, and rescue operations intensified on Monday, July 20, 2024.
Authorities evacuated over 1,100 people from the area, which is known for its natural beauty and steep hillsides along the Wujian River.
President Xi Jinping called for scientific search and rescue operations and a swift investigation into the landslide's cause.
China is prone to landslides due to intense summer rainfall, rapid urbanization, frequent tectonic activity, and mountainous terrain.
- Who
- Rescue teams and authorities in China
- What
- A landslide caused by torrential rain, with rescue efforts involving explosives to clear boulders
- When
- Landslide occurred on Friday, July 17, 2024; rescue operations on Monday, July 20, 2024
- Where
- Penghui County, Chongqing, China
- Why
- To rescue 34 missing people and prevent further disasters due to heavy rain and geological risks
- Location
- Penghui County, Chongqing, China
- Date of Landslide
- Friday, July 17, 2024
- Number of Missing
- 34
- Number of Evacuated
- 1,100
- Population of Penghui County
- 500,000
- Key Rivers Above Warning Levels
- Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Anhui, Shanghai
- Decadal Landslide Death Toll
- 294
- Worst Landslide Incident
- Shenzhen, 2015 (70+ deaths)