At least nine people have been killed and three remain missing after a flash flood swept through a wild camping site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local emergency authorities said on Sunday.
The flood struck around 10pm on Saturday in the upstream section of a river in Urad Rear Banner, Bayannur City. The event left 13 campers unaccounted for, according to Xinhua.
By 3:30pm Sunday, one person had been rescued, nine were confirmed dead, and search operations continued for the remaining three. More than 700 rescuers had been deployed to the site.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has ordered full-scale operations to locate the missing and dispatched a work team to oversee rescue efforts.
The ministry also urged travellers to avoid undeveloped wilderness areas during the flood season and to remain cautious in geologically hazardous zones.