Flash flood kills 6 tourists in NW China

SHIZUISHAN, Ningxia - Six tourists died and more than 30 were evacuated after a flash flood that soaked a mountain ravine in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region Saturday, local authorities said.

The flash flood, triggered by torrential rains in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, hit the Leek Ravine in the Helan Mountain that borders Inner Mongolia's Alxa League and Shizuishan city of Ningxia at 12 pm, Ningxia's regional drought relief and flood control headquarters said in a statement.

Nine tourists were washed away while playing near a waterfall in the ravine. Six of them were found dead by rescuers and the other three were hospitalized with injuries, it said.

At least 30 other tourists were evacuated to the city proper for safety considerations, said Xu Dongtao, an officer with Ningxia's fire prevention headquarters who led the rescue operation.

More than 100 officers and fire fighters joined the search and rescue.

The city government of Shizuishan warned citizens Saturday of more mountain torrents and landslides in the Helan Mountain this flood season.