Volunteers, medical workers and businesses quickly mobilized to provide food, medical assistance and emotional support to people displaced after a landslide struck residential buildings in Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county, Chongqing, on Friday morning.

The landslide occurred at around 9:10 am Friday in Hanjia subdistrict, with eight people later confirmed dead. As of 6:30 pm on Friday, rescuers had pulled another 10 people alive from the debris suffering from varying degrees of injury. A further 34 people remained trapped or missing.

Thanks to early warnings issued by local authorities, many residents in areas at risk had been evacuated to temporary shelters before the landslide occurred. Those staying at shelters are reported to be in good physical and mental condition with sufficient supplies.

At one hotel serving as a temporary shelter, 15 volunteers are working around the clock to assist evacuees. Each floor is staffed by two to three volunteers responsible for distributing daily necessities, coordinating medical services and offering companionship.

Luo Huan, a volunteer with the Pengshui women's federation who works in the local wedding industry, arrived at the shelter early Saturday morning to provide breakfast and other assistance.

"Volunteers from all walks of life came together to help after seeing news of the disaster in WeChat group chats," Luo said. "Besides providing daily necessities, we're also helping connect residents with medical services and staying with them to provide emotional support."

Ran Maohui, a doctor working at one of the shelters, said she has been offering psychological counseling while screening residents for potential health issues.

"We've helped elderly residents with hypertension reconnect with doctors and obtain new prescriptions," Ran said.

"For a mother who had recently given birth and was struggling to produce enough breast milk, the shelter arranged specially prepared nutritious meals," she added.

Volunteer Huang Chutong, who worked throughout Friday night on the relief effort, estimated that hundreds of local businesses had provided assistance.

"Some volunteers are themselves victims whose homes were destroyed, yet they still chose to help others," Huang said.

"The government's response was extremely fast, especially community workers who rushed to the affected areas immediately."

Among those evacuated was Gong Shaoqun, who runs a grain and cooking oil wholesale business. She said her home in a seven-story residential building was buried by the landslide, but that all three members of her family escaped safely after receiving an evacuation warning at around 7 am.

"We didn't have time to take anything with us," Gong said.

"But the shelter has provided us with all the daily necessities we need."