Rain-triggered flash flood kills 10 in China's Gansu scenic area

A flash flood triggered by sudden heavy rainfall hit a scenic area in northwest China's Gansu Province on Sunday afternoon, leaving 10 people dead and 23 injured as of 6 p.m., local authorities said, reported Xinhua.

Some tourists were camping in the scenic area in Weiyuan County, Dingxi City, and were trapped after the flood burst out.

Local public security and fire-and-rescue departments have dispatched rescue teams to the site, and search-and-rescue operations are underway.

China's office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) have dispatched a work team to northwest China's Gansu Province on Sunday to guide local relief efforts after a flash flood caused casualties.

The headquarters has activated a Level-IV flood prevention emergency response for the province, the MEM said.

A total of 305 rescue personnel with 68 vehicles from the national comprehensive fire and rescue teams are conducting rescue operations at the site, according to the MEM.

China has a four-tier emergency response system, with level I being the most severe response.