Heavy downpours triggered violent mountain torrents in Yuzhong County, located in the Chinese mainland’s Gansu Province, leaving at least 13 people dead and around 30 still unaccounted for as of midday Saturday, local authorities report.
Rescue crews, including provincial and volunteer teams, have been working around the clock to comb through debris-clogged valleys. With roads washed out and communication lines disrupted, crews are using drones and sniffer dogs to locate survivors amid shifting mudslides.
Residents like 28-year-old farmer Li Mei (pseudonym) describe how a sudden wall of water swept through her village in the early hours, carrying livestock and household goods downstream. She recalls the thunderous roar that woke them in the night and said they had barely a moment to escape.
Gansu’s rugged terrain and narrow mountain passes make it vulnerable to flash floods, especially after record-breaking rains this season. Climate analysts warn that rising temperatures fuel heavier rainfall events worldwide, underscoring the need for updated infrastructure and early-warning systems.
Local government units have set up temporary shelters for displaced residents and are coordinating with the Chinese mainland’s disaster relief authorities to dispatch food, tents, and medical support. As search efforts continue, communities are rallying to support those impacted by one of the deadliest outbreaks of flooding in the region in recent years.
Reference(s):
Death toll in mountain torrents in NW China's Gansu rises to 13
cgtn.com
