dexinwin A sudden debris flow struck Yanbian County in Panzhihua, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, early Saturday morning, leaving five people missing, according to local authorities.
The disaster occurred in the early hours of September 19 near the Shijiagou Tunnel in Zhiliuhe Village, Gesala Township, Yanbian County. Preliminary figures released by authorities indicated that five people were missing following the incident.
Emergency response teams were quickly mobilized after the debris flow. The Sichuan Provincial Emergency Management Department coordinated with emergency authorities in Panzhihua and Yanbian County and dispatched a working team to the area to guide rescue and disaster-relief operations.
Rescue forces, including emergency response personnel and firefighters, have been sent to the scene. Authorities have also deployed a Wing Loong unmanned aerial vehicle to assist with aerial reconnaissance and communications recovery, as difficult conditions have affected access and communications in the area.
According to Sichuan media, the affected area is located in a mountainous part of northern Yanbian County. Roads around the disaster site have suffered serious damage, while communication conditions remain difficult. Local authorities said the missing people were workers involved in an expressway construction project near the site. There was no information indicating that local villagers were among the five missing people at the time of the report.
The disaster also followed a period of heightened geological risk in the area. On September 18, Panzhihua's natural resources authorities issued a yellow warning for geological disasters, citing weather conditions that could increase the risk of landslides, rockfalls and debris flows in parts of Yanbian County, including Gesala Township. Authorities had called for enhanced monitoring and precautionary measures in affected areas.
The Ministry of Natural Resources subsequently activated a Level IV geological disaster response for Sichuan's Yanbian County on September 19, according to reports.
Rescue operations remain underway, with authorities continuing to search for the missing people and assess the extent of damage. As of the latest available reports, there had been no confirmed announcement of additional casualties.
The incident highlights the risks faced by mountainous communities and construction projects during periods of heavy rainfall and elevated geological hazards. Authorities are expected to provide further updates as search and rescue efforts progress.
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