At least eight people were killed and 34 others remain missing after a landslide struck the outskirts of southwest China's Chongqing municipality on Friday, burying homes and forcing more than 1,100 residents to evacuate, local authorities said.

The landslide occurred around 9:08 am in Pengshui County, when a huge mass of rocks and soil swept down a hillside, burying more than 10 residential buildings, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Rescue teams pulled 10 people from the debris, including two who were seriously injured, Pengshui County Mayor Ren Xujiang said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping instructed authorities to investigate the cause of the disaster and continue rescue efforts, state media reported.

Officials said the landslide involved about 18,000 cubic metres of rocks and debris. Wang Chuanjun, head of Planning and Natural Resources in Pengshui County, said the largest single rock measured around 3,000 cubic metres.

He warned that the area remains at risk of further landslides, especially during heavy rain or prolonged hot and dry weather. Experts who inspected the site found unstable rock formations at the top and along the sides of the steep cliff.

As a precaution, authorities cut water, electricity and gas supplies within a one-kilometre radius of the affected area.

More than 800 rescue workers have been deployed to search for survivors and clear the debris, according to a local government statement.