BEIJING: The death toll from flash floods and mudslides in northwest China has risen to 13, state media said on Saturday (Aug 9), after the bodies of three people were found.
Torrents of mud and water began hitting mountainous areas of Gansu province on Thursday, with the death toll listed as 10 on Friday as rescuers searched for at least 33 missing people.
Natural disasters are common across China, particularly in the summer, when some regions experience heavy rain while others bake in searing heat.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the “utmost effort” in rescuing missing people, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Friday.
The death toll stood at 13, with the number of missing now listed as 30, state news agency Xinhua said on Saturday.
Hundreds of people had been rescued and thousands more evacuated, Xinhua added.
It quoted a rescue official describing the situation as “complex” due to the mud and rough roads, with telephone lines and electricity also cut.
State media on Friday put the number of people trapped in the mountainous Xinglong area at 4,000, with heavy rain pushing garbage into roads.
Beijing’s top economic planner has allocated 100 million yuan (US$14 million) towards disaster relief in Gansu.
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