Chinese flash floods: 9 dead in Inner Mongolia; over 700 join urgent rescue mission

Nine people have died and three remain missing after a flash flood struck campers in China’s Inner Mongolia, state media reported on Sunday.

According to Xinhua news agency, a group of 13 people were camping outdoors in Inner Mongolia's Urat Rear Banner when the flood hit around 10 pm (1400 GMT) on Saturday. By Sunday afternoon, one person had been rescued, while more than 700 workers were “urgently” searching for the missing.

The ministry of emergency management has directed a full-scale rescue operation, called for confirmation of the missing persons’ status, and sent a working team to the site, state broadcaster CCTV reported, as cited by AFP.

Natural disasters are common in China, especially during the summer months, when some areas face heavy rains while others endure extreme heat.

Earlier this month, flash floods and mudslides in the country’s northwest killed at least 13 people, according to state media.

Beijing also saw heavy rainfall last month, leaving 44 people dead, with rural suburbs suffering the worst damage. In neighbouring Hebei province, a landslide claimed another eight lives.

Scientists have warned that human-driven climate change is intensifying weather patterns, increasing the likelihood of destructive floods.