7 lives lost after severe flash floods hit Pengzhou, China

Severe flash floods caused by heavy rains hit the city of Pengzhou, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, on August 13, 2022, resulting in the deaths of seven people.

According to local authorities, the deaths took place after huge amounts of rainwater gushed down a dried-up river in Longcaogou Valley where some tourists were camping despite repeated warnings that it’s prone to mountain floods during heavy rains.

Witnesses said they were washed away within just a few seconds.

As a response, the provincial government of Sichuan issued a notice on Saturday evening requiring local authorities across the province to immediately inspect scenic spots that are prone to natural disasters and to arrange for administrators to keep an eye on the key places and dissuade tourists from unsafe behaviors in a timely manner.

Longcaogou is located in an area that is prone to landslides, mountain floods, and other natural disasters, which poses a great threat to the personal safety of tourists. Local authorities have issued several advisories warning of the dangers of visiting Longcaogou in 2021.

Featured image credit: 厲害了我的國