Rescue and relief teams raced against time over the weekend to search for survivors and provide relief to affected people after a landslide struck the Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in Chongqing, as support poured in from around the country for those affected by the disaster.

According to local authorities, as many as 872 rescue personnel and more than 1,100 pieces of equipment, including life detectors, have been deployed to the site.

The landslide occurred at around 9 am on Friday in Pengshui, killing eight people, while 34 others were missing. Of the 10 people hospitalized, two were severely injured and two were in critical condition.

According to on-site surveys conducted by geological experts, the affected area was about 60 meters long, 30 meters high and 10 meters deep.

Experts classified the disaster as a large-scale rockfall, with the largest detached boulder estimated to measure about 3,000 cubic meters — roughly the size of a residential building.

"Such a large boulder has made the rescue operation far more challenging than anything the rescue crew has encountered before," Zhou Zhidong, chief technician of China Anneng Construction Group's No 3 Engineering Group, told the media on Saturday.

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The rescue site is also extremely confined, flanked as it is by mountains, steep slopes and a river. Zhou said that only one or two pieces of heavy equipment could pass through at a time, severely restricting the deployment of large machinery.

Li Li, head of an expert panel overseeing the disaster response, said the extent of the damage was difficult to detect from the surface because the fracture planes were hidden within the mountain and experts had to climb to the top for on-site inspections.

Despite challenges, early warnings from local community workers helped prevent a much bigger disaster.

Zhang Weiling, Party secretary of Shatuo community in Pengshui, told China Daily that four community workers went door to door urging residents to evacuate after spotting scattered falling rocks during a routine inspection.

Local authorities quickly evacuated more than 1,100 residents, including over 60 people living near the core danger zone.

One of the community workers, identified as Gong Baodong, went missing while helping evacuate residents. The other three workers on duty at the time were confirmed safe, Zhang said.

Following the disaster, volunteers, medical workers, businesses and local residents rushed forward to help, and widespread support poured in from across the county and beyond.

Luo Huan, a volunteer from the Pengshui Women's Federation, arrived at a temporary shelter early on Saturday morning to distribute breakfast and provide assistance.

"Volunteers from all walks of life came together to help," Luo said. "Besides providing daily necessities, we are also helping connect residents with medical services and staying with them to offer emotional support."

Ran Maohui, a doctor at the shelter, said she provided psychological support and health checks for evacuees. She also helped elderly residents with chronic conditions like high blood pressure refill prescriptions, and arranged nutritious meals for a new mother struggling to breastfeed her child.

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Among those evacuated, Gong Shaoqun, who runs a grain and cooking oil wholesale business, said her home in a seven-story residential building was buried by the landslide, but all three members of her family escaped after receiving an evacuation warning.

"We didn't have time to take anything with us," she said. "But the shelter has provided all the daily necessities."

Efforts bolstered

The National Health Commission has sent emergency medical teams and specialist doctors to support treatment efforts.

The commission immediately mobilized national and Chongqing emergency medical rescue teams and sent medical workers and ambulances to the site.

A college freshman surnamed Zhang, who was injured in the disaster, was alone at home when the landslide occurred. She recalled struggling to walk due to leg injuries, before a firefighter carried her down and took her to an ambulance.

After being treated at the hospital, Zhang said she was recovering, though her legs still hurt a little while walking.

"The medical staff were so kind and caring. I was deeply moved," she said.

Contact the writers at huqing@chinadaily.com.cn