Daijiworld Media Network- Beijing

Beijing, Aug 17: Tragedy struck Inner Mongolia after sudden flash floods claimed the lives of eight people and left four others missing, Chinese state media reported on Sunday.

According to Xinhua news agency, the incident occurred late on Saturday night around 10 pm, when a group of 13 people were camping in Urat Rear Banner, located in the western part of Inner Mongolia. The unexpected floodwaters swept through the campsite, leaving behind a trail of devastation.

Rescue teams rushed to the spot, managing to save one person alive. Search and rescue operations are continuing on a war footing to trace the four missing individuals. The Ministry of Emergency Management has directed full-scale operations, ordering verification of the missing persons’ status and dispatching a special working group to the disaster site, state broadcaster CCTV confirmed.

Natural calamities of this nature are not uncommon across China during the summer season, when heavy rains lash several regions while others reel under extreme heat.

Earlier in August, at least 13 people were killed in flash floods and mudslides in northwest China. The month also saw Beijing recording one of its deadliest rain-related tragedies in recent times, with 44 deaths reported following torrential rains. In addition, eight people lost their lives in a landslide in Hebei province.

Experts warn that climate change, fuelled by human activities, is intensifying weather extremes, increasing the frequency of destructive floods across vulnerable regions.