According to local authorities, nine rescue teams comprised of firefighters, police, armed forces, emergency management personnel, and local residents completed a search along 20 kilometers of the river with an operation that combined land, water, and air resources.

The flood happened on the afternoon of May 23rd local time, and search and rescue efforts have being done along the approximately 25-kilometer stretch of the river.

Such events show the vulnerability of certain rural areas in China to natural events, especially during periods of heavy rain, and test the rapid response capacity of government institutions.

Last week, a landslide hit a rural area in Dafang County, Guizhou Province, southwest China, leaving at least 10 people trapped in the rubble.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly called for strengthening disaster monitoring and early warning, identifying hidden risks and dangers in a timely manner, preparing adequate equipment and materials, perfecting work plans, and effectively addressing all emergencies.

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