At Least 4 Dead and Dozens Missing After Landslide and Flood in China

At least four people were dead and 23 others were missing on Sunday, a day after a flash flood and landslide struck the city of Kangding in a mountainous part of Sichuan Province in southwestern China. It was the latest in a recent series of deadly events in China involving extreme weather.

State media reported early Sunday morning that at least 939 people had been relocated from the area because of the flooding. The majority of people in the region are Tibetans.

Among the missing were some people who had been on an expressway bridge near the city, between two mountain tunnels. The bridge collapsed amid heavy rain early Saturday, and three vehicles and five people were still unaccounted for as of Sunday.

A torrent of mud and water rushed into the area with force from a high elevation, according to state media. A photograph released showed mud and broken pieces of roadway cascading down a steep slope where a vehicle lay on its side.

The Ministry of Emergency Management sent officials to the area to oversee a rescue effort that involved more than 1,400 people, 215 vehicles, search and rescue dogs and a helicopter.

Extreme weather has hit several parts of the country in recent weeks, taking a toll on lives and property.

At least 30 people were killed late last month when heavy rain from Typhoon Gaemi lashed Hunan Province in southern China, causing widespread flooding. According to state media, 35 people remained missing. Close to 100,000 people had to evacuate. By the weekend, power, transportation and communication had largely been restored to eight villages that had been cut off by flash floods and landslides.

About two weeks ago, 38 people died when part of a highway bridge collapsed during a period of heavy rain in western China. As of Friday, 24 people remained missing, according to official sources.

In June, at least 47 people died as a result of flooding and landslides in southern China’s Guangdong Province. More than 100,000 people were evacuated after the city of Meizhou experienced heavy rainfall, according to state media.

Adding to the suffering, July was the hottest month recorded in China since the country began collecting data in 1961. Higher than average temperatures were reported in every province in China.

The Chinese government has allocated more than $1.6 billion in disaster relief funds to local governments so far this year.

The landslide on Saturday severed two of the area’s main transportation routes during the summer tourist season. A local official said that a working group had been set up to serve tourists and truck drivers in the area who were stranded by the road closings.