Race against time to find dozens of locals trapped under rubble after terrifying landslide in China left at least 8 dead

AT least eight people have died and 34 remain missing after a terrifying landslide smashed into homes in China. Rescue crews have launched a frantic search for survivors who may still be trapped among the rubble after at least 10 houses were demolished. At least eight people have died after a landslide smashed into 10 buildings in China Credit: AP Rescue workers search for survivors with dogs after devastating landslide Credit: Getty The disaster struck the Pengshui County, on the outskirts of Chongqing municipality on Friday morning. Images and footage from the scene showed a fallen rock which appears to be larger than a multistorey building. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! One of the damaged buildings had its top part crushed and a car was seen half-buried near another building. China’s Ministry of Emergency Management deployed 100 people to help with the search and rescue effort. A building was torn open as the landslide crashed into the city Credit: Reuters Around 18,000 cubic meters of rocks and debris smashed to the ground Credit: Getty Around 200 fire rescue crew members were also deployed. They declared a level two national emergency response for geological disasters, Xinhua. Ten people have been pulled from the debris so far and rushed to hospital for treatment. The landslide was first reported at around 9.08am local time, when a section of the Wujiang River reportedly broke along the banks. Most read in The Sun Rescue workers continue operations through the night to find survivors Credit: Reuters The largest single rock was a mammoth 3,000 cubic meters, authorities said Credit: AP According to the county’s Planning and Natural Resources, around 18,000 cubic metres of rocks and debris crashed into the nearby city. The largest single rock was a mammoth 3,000 cubic metres, it added. Rescue operations have so far focused on one side of the massive rocks. But teams still need to look beneath them, where they risk being crushed if more boulders become unstable and slide, CCTV reported. Crews have rescued 10 people so far who were rushed to hospital Credit: AP Rescue crews use diggers to filter through the mass of debris after the disaster Credit: Getty Local shop owner, known as Mr Xie, told ABC News: “The situation was quite intense and fierce. “It was very scary. Everything is covered in dust, buried underground.” China’s National Development and Reform Commission has pumped 30million yuan (£3.2million) into a relief fund to restore the decimated infrastructure following the landslide. It comes after heavy rain and high winds in Pengshui and the surrounding area in recent days. Ferocious 180mph typhoon winds struck Wenzhou this week and sent a luxury £20million cruise ship toppling over. Last week, almost two million people had to be evacuated from southeastern China Typhoon Bavi approached. The tropical storm claimed 17 lives as it ripped through southern Philippines before making its way to China and causing mudslides. Comment now