Search and rescue efforts are still underway in Ya'an City, southwest China's Sichuan Province in the wake of heavy rain triggered flash flooding in the early morning hours of Saturday which has killed at least eight people.
More than 30 people are unaccounted for, after the floods triggered by torrential rains damaged over 40 houses at Xinhua Village in Hanyuan County of Ya'an.
The disaster disrupted traffic on roads and bridges, and cut off telecommunications in the area.
The city authorities briefed news media on the latest developments early Sunday morning.
"Preliminary investigation suggests more than 30 people are missing. Over 40 houses and more than 60 kilometers of road have been damaged. After all-out search and rescue efforts, as of 22:00 Saturday, the bodies of eight victims had been found, including five that were previously identified as missing. We are still verifying the identities of the remains of another three," said Peng Yingmei, mayor of Ya'an, at a press conference in Ya'an.
After the disaster took place, Ya'an City dispatched 23 rescue teams and over 1,500 sets of rescue equipment to the site.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has also dispatched 29 rescue experts and 13 sets of rescue equipment, as well as drones to provide emergency communications.
"Both Ya'an City and Hanyuan County quickly mobilized professional search and rescue forces, including emergency crews, staff from public security and fire control departments, armed police, militiamen and medical personnel. We have launched all-out efforts to search for the missing. The telecommunication and transportation in the disaster-stricken areas have been basically restored. Electricity is gradually being restored. Emergency rescue and disaster relief work is still ongoing," said Ye Fei, head of Ya'an Emergency Management Bureau.
A task force of China's flood control and relief authorities is guiding the rescue operations in Ya'an. Central authorities have allocated another 4,000 relief items including folding cots, comforters and quilts.
![Rain-triggered floods kill eight, leave over 30 missing in southwest China's Sichuan as search, rescue continue](https://image.bastillepost.com/1138x/wp-content/uploads/global/2024/07/8386768_1721549460002_a.jpg.webp)
Rain-triggered floods kill eight, leave over 30 missing in southwest China's Sichuan as search, rescue continue