Flash floods kill 10 at scenic camping site in Gansu, China

Flash floods triggered by heavy rain have killed 10 people and injured 23 at a tourist site in northwestern China's Gansu province. The torrent struck a scenic camping area in Weiyuan County, in Dingxi City, trapping some campers as water surged through the site. Local officials said another 174 people were rescued after the incident.

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State broadcaster CCTV said the flood was caused by short-term heavy rainfall at a scenic spot in Weiyuan County. An earlier report identified the location as the Shuangshimen Scenic Area, a mountainous area known for natural stone arches, alpine meadows and mountain streams. The site is a popular summer camping destination, which helps explain why people were present when the flood hit.

The injured were taken to hospital for treatment, according to the broadcaster. The disaster comes as large parts of southern China were already on high alert for flooding after Typhoon Noul made landfall earlier on Sunday. Although Gansu is far from the typhoon's path, local authorities across the province had issued severe weather alerts because of heavy rainfall.

Residents were told to stay indoors, follow safety instructions and exercise caution. The overlap of regional flood warnings and a sudden mountain torrent has underlined the risks posed by extreme weather in vulnerable tourist areas. Gansu is a mountainous province in China's northwest, where narrow valleys and fast-moving streams can make flash flooding especially dangerous after intense rain.

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Scenic sites that attract campers and summer visitors can become difficult to evacuate quickly when weather conditions change suddenly. In this case, the combination of holiday travel, outdoor camping and severe weather appears to have increased the scale of the emergency. The incident also highlights the challenge for local authorities in balancing tourism with weather-related safety measures.

The rescue effort involved local officials and emergency responders, who reported that hundreds of people were moved to safety. The number of rescued people suggests the site was busy at the time of the flood, although the exact total of those present has not been confirmed. The fact that injuries were treated in hospital indicates the event caused both immediate casualties and wider disruption at the scenic area.

It also adds to a broader pattern of weather-related emergencies affecting parts of China during the summer flood season. What remains unclear is the full condition of the injured and whether any people are still missing. It is also not yet clear how quickly warnings reached visitors at the site or whether any evacuation procedures were in place before the flood struck.

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