Community worker identified as dead in landslide-hit Chongqing county

The remains of community worker Gong Baodong have been found and identified following a landslide in Chongqing's Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county, according to rescue headquarters on Wednesday.

Gong, who was actively involved in evacuation efforts, was confirmed dead through DNA testing.

His body was discovered early Wednesday morning, around 4 am, during an intensive search at the landslide site in Pengshui's Shatuo community of Hanjia subdistrict.

Gong, who was in his 20s, was a grid manager for the Shatuo community and was among the first responders assisting residents to evacuate when he was caught in the disaster. Notably, the other three community workers on duty at the time were confirmed safe.

Colleagues described him as responsible, diligent, and committed to self-improvement. In China, community workers like Gong play an important role in grassroots social governance, promoting policies, gathering information, and linking residents with Party organizations, government departments, and public institutions.