Beijing: Following a flash flood in northwest China, 16 people have been killed and at least 36 people have been reported missing, according to official media on Thursday.
According to the DPA news agency citing official media, the flash floods happened on Wednesday night in the mountains in Datong county close to the city of Xining in Qinghai province, IANS reported.
The downpours triggered landslides that blocked and diverted rivers, affecting more than 6,000 people in two townships and six villages, the report said.
The authorities mobilised around 2,000 rescue workers, including police officers, paramilitary units, emergency services and government officials, for recovery efforts.
Qinghai province has declared the second-highest alert level in its four-tier emergency and disaster response system, state media reported.