At Least 4 Dead and Dozens Missing After Landslide and Flood in China

At least four people were dead and 23 others were missing on Sunday, a day after a flash flood and landslide struck the city of Kangding in a mountainous part of Sichuan Province in southwestern China. It was the latest in a recent series of deadly events in China involving extreme weather.

State media reported early Sunday morning that at least 939 people had been relocated from the area because of the flooding. The majority of people in the region are Tibetans.

Among the missing were some people who had been on an expressway bridge near the city, between two mountain tunnels. The bridge collapsed amid heavy rain early Saturday, and three vehicles and five people were still unaccounted for as of Sunday.

A torrent of mud and water rushed into the area with force from a high elevation, according to state media. A photograph released by the official Xinhua news agency showed mud and broken pieces of roadway cascading down a steep slope where a vehicle lay on its side.

The Ministry of Emergency Management sent officials to the area to oversee a rescue effort that involved more than 1,400 people, 215 vehicles, search and rescue dogs and a helicopter.

Extreme weather has hit several parts of the country in recent weeks, taking a toll on lives and property.

At least 30 people were killed late last month when heavy rain from Typhoon Gaemi lashed Hunan Province in southern China, causing widespread flooding. According to state media, 35 people remained missing as of Thursday. Close to 100,000 people had to evacuate. By the weekend, power, transportation and communication had largely been restored to eight villages that had been cut off by flash floods and landslides.

About two weeks ago, 38 people died when part of a highway