Chongqing Landslide Rescue Intensifies as ‘Motorcycle Army’ Rallies
Rescue operations are entering a critical phase following a devastating landslide in Pengshui County, Chongqing, as authorities confirmed eight fatalities and 34 missing persons, while a spontaneous volunteer force of hundreds of motorcyclists has mobilized to deliver supplies to the disaster zone.
The landslide struck the Hanjia Street area of Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County on the morning of July 17, sending an estimated 18,000 cubic meters of rock and debris cascading down onto multiple residential buildings along the Wujiang River. According to CCTV News, 18 people had been pulled from the rubble by the evening of July 17, with 10 injured survivors receiving treatment at local hospitals.
Early Warning Saved Lives
A community grid worker on routine patrol spotted scattered falling rocks on Shanshu Road approximately one hour before the main collapse and issued an early warning. This alert enabled local authorities to evacuate more than 60 people from the core danger zone before the landslide occurred, likely preventing an even greater tragedy. In total, approximately 1,100 residents have been evacuated, with 13 temporary shelters established to house displaced families.
Rescue Operations Advance
By July 20, rescue efforts had reached a significant milestone with the first successful boulder blasting operation, as reported by CCTV News. The landslide’s largest single boulder, measuring approximately 3,000 cubic meters, had previously blocked access to deeper sections of the debris field. The controlled explosion now enables rescue teams to search areas previously inaccessible.
More than 870 rescue personnel from city and county levels are working at the site with over 1,100 pieces of equipment. Water rescue teams have been deployed from six kilometers downstream to search along the river, while China Anneng has deployed mobile pontoon bridges to expand the operational area. The National Safety Production Emergency Rescue Survey Team has installed slope radar and drone surveillance systems for 24-hour monitoring of remaining unstable rock formations.
‘Motorcycle Army’ Leads Grassroots Response
In a display of community solidarity reminiscent of the 2022 Chongqing wildfire response, hundreds of local volunteers have formed a “motorcycle army” to shuttle supplies through the mountainous county’s narrow streets. Nearly 300 riders from Pengshui and surrounding areas have gathered at a staging point near the disaster zone, waiting in organized queues to transport water, food, and medical supplies to frontline rescue workers.
Science and Technology Daily reported that the Pengshui Catering Chamber of Commerce has organized more than 100 restaurants to provide free meals, preparing over 2,000 box lunches daily for rescue personnel and displaced residents. “Today my restaurant needs to supply 130 portions, we’re preparing carefully,” said Dai Duyang, Party Branch Secretary of the chamber.
Local residents have also contributed whatever they can — from bags of rice and cooking oil to freshly cooked corn and steamed buns. “Everyone’s work hasn’t stopped, and our hearts are very warm,” volunteer Wang Shu told reporters.
Stories of Survival and Heroism
Among the survivors is Dou Yuanheng, a 62-year-old porter who became an unlikely hero. Upon hearing warnings of the impending landslide, Dou dropped his groceries and ran upstairs to alert his landlord and neighbors. After the collapse, he dug his ex-wife Zhao Zhongju out of the rubble with his bare hands. Both are receiving medical treatment — Dou for bone fractures, and Zhao for severe injuries. The landlord, who identifies himself only as “Shange,” called Dou his “life-saving benefactor.”
Government Response and Forward Look
Four central government ministries — the National Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Relief Committee, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Ministry of Emergency Management — have issued a joint emergency notice calling for geological disaster risk inspections nationwide. Emergency relief supplies from the central government have arrived at shelters, and emergency living assistance funds are being distributed to affected families.
Experts warn that residual unstable rock masses on the slope could collapse again under extreme weather conditions, and monitoring continues around the clock. The coming days will be critical as rescue teams race against time to locate the 34 still missing beneath the rubble.
The disaster has highlighted both the effectiveness of China’s community-level early warning systems and the remarkable resilience of grassroots volunteer networks in times of crisis.