Flash floods leave 15 dead, 28 missing in Gansu

Fifteen people have been confirmed dead and 28 remain missing as of 6 pm on Saturday after flash floods struck Yuzhong county and surrounding areas in Lanzhou, Gansu province, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters, China Central Television reported.

Torrential rainfall from Thursday to Friday triggered the disaster, damaging roads, power lines, and other infrastructure.

The floods severely disrupted sections of the S104 highway between Xinglong Mountain in Wanjiazhuang village and Xiakou in Chengguan township, as well as the entire Xinghuang road, with a combined damaged length of nearly 40 kilometers, according to the local authorities.

The routes are vital transport links for goods and people in Yuzhong and nearby areas. Their closure has hampered relief operations and daily travel.

As of 6 pm on Friday, the provincial transport authorities have deployed more than 40 pieces of heavy machinery and over 200 emergency workers, restoring traffic at three damaged sections of the S104 highway and four on Xinghuang road.

Rescue and repair efforts are underway.