12 missing in rainstorm in southwest China county

CHENGDU - The number of people missing in rain-triggered disasters in a county in southwest China's Sichuan province has risen to 12, local authorities said Wednesday.

A further five people were reported missing in Ganluo County, Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Liangshan, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.

The five missing near a national highway were confirmed as local residents, the agency said.

The rescue and search efforts have been hindered as the G245 national highway was damaged in several sections and rescuers were still repairing the only road to reach the area where the five went missing.

A separate rescue operation to locate the earlier seven missing, including six construction workers on the Chengdu-Kunming Railway and a local resident, was still underway.

Torrential rains lashed the county from Sunday to Monday, causing floods and mudslides and cutting off transport, communication and electricity.