Rescue teams in southwestern China continued searching for survivors on Saturday after a massive landslide killed at least eight people and left 34 others missing in Chongqing municipality.

The landslide struck Pengshui County on Friday morning, sending thousands of cubic meters of rock and soil crashing down a mountainside and burying more than 10 residential buildings, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Authorities said 10 people were rescued from the debris and taken to hospital for treatment, while more than 1,100 residents have been evacuated from the affected area as a precaution.

Images from the scene showed enormous boulders strewn across the hillside, with one rock appearing larger than a multi-story building. Several homes were severely damaged, including one structure whose upper floors were crushed, while a vehicle was left partially buried beneath the debris.

Officials said the landslide involved an estimated 18,000 cubic meters of rock and earth. Wang Chuanjun, head of Planning and Natural Resources in Pengshui County, told a news conference that the largest individual boulder measured approximately 3,000 cubic meters.

Rescue efforts have been complicated by persistent rainfall, which continued from Friday night into Saturday morning.

CCTV reported that nearly 19.2 centimeters (about 8 inches) of rain fell in the area, increasing the risk of further ground movement and making conditions hazardous for emergency responders.

As rainfall eased, rescue personnel resumed detailed inspections of collapsed buildings and nearby riverbanks in an effort to locate survivors.

Authorities said the operation remains highly dangerous because many victims may be trapped beneath massive boulders that could shift unexpectedly during recovery efforts.

According to CCTV, search teams will first complete operations around the exposed debris before moving beneath the largest rocks. Engineers are expected to drill into the boulders and use controlled explosives to break them into smaller pieces, allowing rescuers to continue searching for those still trapped.

Emergency crews remain at the scene as authorities continue rescue and recovery efforts while monitoring the stability of the surrounding terrain.