Community mobilizes after deadly Chongqing landslide

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."