Rescuers in Pengshui County, Chongqing are racing against time during the critical rescue window following a major landslide, employing a coordinated three-pronged approach involving mechanical excavation and manual searches. The landslide occurred around 9:00 a.m. on July 17 along the Wujiang River bank in Hanjia Subdistrict, Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, burying several residential buildings and trapping people.
As of the latest reports, 18 trapped individuals have been located. Ten of them were rushed to hospital and are reported to be in stable condition, while eight others, despite exhaustive rescue efforts, tragically lost their lives.
Xiao Jiankang, head of the Pengshui County Emergency Management Bureau, stated that a frontline command center was immediately established following the incident. The center coordinates seven specialized teams handling areas such as overall coordination, emergency rescue operations, technical support, and medical services. It is mobilizing resources from emergency, firefighting, and other rescue services, while also organizing the evacuation of nearby residents and focusing all efforts on the search and rescue mission.
Under the command center's direction, a combined force of 872 personnel from municipal and county levels, supported by over 1,100 pieces of equipment, is operating at the site. Adhering to a "rescue first" principle, the operation has been divided into three key zones: the left and right flanks of the landslide's central area and the river surface below the collapsed mass. Teams are utilizing life detectors, search dogs, and demolition tools for surface-level searches.
The strategy combines mechanical excavation with manual inspection to maximize efficiency during the vital rescue period. Operations are proceeding simultaneously from two opposing directions on land and from the riverbank.
Authorities have established a core rescue zone and an outer control perimeter at the collapse site. Approximately 1,100 people from the vicinity have been evacuated and relocated. Emergency supplies totaling 13,000 items have been allocated, ensuring adequate provisions for those affected. Security forces, including police, armed police, and militia, have set up checkpoints to control road access and are patrolling the river to prevent unauthorized entry by people or boats.
Specialist teams are conducting risk assessments and emergency surveys in the broader area affected by the landslide. Monitoring equipment has been installed around the site to track ground movement and the stability of the slopes above the work area, with the goal of preventing any secondary disasters.
Rescue work continues around the clock. Moving forward, local authorities plan to integrate with reinforcing rescue teams and expert support arriving from various levels. The focus remains on exploiting the critical rescue window, accelerating all rescue and handling operations, and doing everything possible to locate any remaining trapped individuals and minimize casualties.
Concurrently, efforts will continue on monitoring risks at the collapse site, removing hazards, and ensuring the safety of rescue personnel to prevent secondary incidents. Support for the displaced residents is also a priority, with measures being taken to secure their livelihood needs to the greatest extent possible.
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