A POWERFUL landslide in China has left buildings crashing to the ground with residents trapped under the rubble.

Part of a mountainside collapsed onto a residential area sparking a frantic rescue operation to find survivors.

A landslide in China has left buildings crashing to the ground with residents trapped under the ruins Credit: Reuters

The landslide was first reported at around 9:08am local time in Chongqing’s Pengshui county Credit: Reuters

At least eight people have been pulled from the debris in the city of Chongqing with an unknown number of locals still unaccounted for.

China’s Ministry of Emergency Management deployed 100 people to help with the search and rescue effort.

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Around 200 fire rescue crew members were also deployed.

All of the survivors were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The landslide was first reported at around 9.08am local time in Chongqing’s Pengshui county.

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.”

It comes after heavy rain in the Pengshui area in recent days.