12 dead, 26 missing as rain batters southwest China

The death toll has risen to 12 while 26 were unaccounted for after heavy downpours and mudslides battered a county in southwest China's Sichuan Province, local authorities said Friday.

An aerial photo shows roads and residential buildings are destroyed after mudslides and heavy downpours battered Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province on August 22, 2019. [Photo: IC]

Two missing persons in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, were confirmed dead Friday, according to the emergency management bureau of Aba.

A total of 95,500 tourists in Wenchuan and other counties have been evacuated to safety as of 12:00 a.m. Friday, including more than 47,200 in Wenchuan. There are no tourists stranded in the disaster-affected areas.

Heavy downpours and mudslides hit counties including Wenchuan and Songpan in the province Tuesday, damaging some roads and stranding a large number of passengers.

The prefecture organized buses and private vehicles to evacuate tourists immediately after the disaster occurred.

Search and rescue efforts are still underway.