On the morning of July 17, a serious mountain collapse occurred in Pengshui County, Chongqing, causing more than a dozen buildings to collapse and residents to be buried. It is reported that the largest piece of rolling rock that fell was approximately equivalent to the size of a building.
Videos posted by netizens on social media on July 18 show a truck passing by the scene capturing the moment of the mountain collapse. The video shows the truck driving on a road, just passing the scene, when the buildings behind it began collapsing one after another. Another vehicle happened to drive into the area and was instantly buried.
According to the official before-and-after comparison images of the mountain collapse, a large section of the mountain collapsed, burying two rows of residential buildings below.
Local resident Ms. Xie told Daxiang News that she estimated about a dozen or so houses collapsed, and there was also a passenger vehicle passing by that got crushed underneath.
According to CCTV News, a survivor trembling with fear said, “If we were a bit slower, I can’t bear to think about the consequences.”
Rescue personnel on the scene revealed that the collapsed body was enormous, with the largest rock volume being approximately equivalent to the size of a building.
Chongqing officials stated in a press conference that, according to geological experts’ on-site survey, the length of the collapsed mountain body was about 60 meters, height about 30 meters, thickness about 10 meters, with a total volume of about 18,000 cubic meters. The largest single dangerous rock body had a volume of about 3,000 cubic meters, classified as a large-scale collapse. Due to the scattered dangerous rock blocks still present at the steep top and sides after the collapse, there is a risk of another collapse under extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfall, prolonged high temperatures, etc.
According to Xinhua News Agency, after the mountain collapse, the area within a kilometer radius has experienced water, power, and gas outages. As of now, the collapse has resulted in 8 deaths and 34 people missing.
However, due to the consistent cover-up of the disaster by the authorities, the actual number of casualties and buried individuals still needs further verification.
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This summary highlights the tragic events of the mountain collapse in Pengshui County, Chongqing, on July 17. Numerous buildings were destroyed, and residents were trapped under the debris. Despite the rescue efforts, the death toll continues to rise, and many are still missing.
The video footage shared on social media captures the horrifying moment of the mountain collapse, showcasing the swift destruction of the surrounding structures. Survivors recount their harrowing experiences, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate assistance.
Geological experts have assessed the scale of the collapse, noting the significant volume of rocks and debris that came tumbling down, posing a continued risk of further collapses. The impact on the local infrastructure has been severe, with disruptions to essential services exacerbating the challenges faced by rescue teams.
The lack of transparency from authorities regarding the full extent of the disaster has raised concerns about the accuracy of reported casualties and the scale of the devastation. As the community grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy, efforts to locate missing individuals and provide support to those affected are ongoing.