Helicopters and drones join search for 10 missing in Hunan floods

Authorities have deployed helicopters and drones in the search for 10 individuals still missing after devastating floods hit Shimen county in Changde, Hunan province.

The heavy rainfall, which began on Sunday, impacted all 23 townships and subdistricts in the county, displacing over 31,000 people and affecting more than 100,000 residents. The death toll stands at six as of Friday morning, local authorities said.

The hardest-hit areas include Hupingshan, Suojie, and Nanbei townships, where rapidly rising rivers triggered severe flooding. The downpour caused 42 small reservoirs to overflow, with two still above warning levels as of Thursday evening.

By Friday morning, fire and rescue authorities across Hunan province had deployed 40 fire trucks and 186 firefighters to evacuate trapped residents and search for the missing. On the county level, 120 rescuers were mobilized, and 490 social emergency responders, 900 township and village officials, and over 10,000 local volunteers joined the relief efforts.

Five search teams from the local fire and rescue department have been deployed, but damaged roads have complicated their work, according to Chen Zhi, deputy head of the Changde fire and rescue bureau, adding that drones with infrared capabilities have also been hampered by heavy fog in mountainous areas.

More than 70 teams have been dispatched to restore damaged roads, bridges, communication networks, and power facilities, authorities said. As of Thursday evening, most sections of the G241 national highway have reopened, while one provincial highway and three county roads remain under traffic control.

Power and communication crews are working around the clock. Large fixed-wing drones have been deployed to deliver generators to isolated villages. As of Thursday morning, communication has been restored to 62 villages, while six villages without service have been equipped with satellite phones. Power has been restored to 56 villages, with the remaining 12 receiving mobile power supplies.

Across the county, 24 temporary shelters have been set up, with supplies distributed, including blankets, folding beds, generators, rice, bottled water, disinfectant, and medicine.