Chinese flash floods: 11 drainage workers killed after deluge warning in Shenzhen
- Emergency officials say drainage firm did not respond properly to warnings
- Weather bureau says more heavy rain on its way to Guangdong
Eleven people were killed in a flash flood in Shenzhen on Thursday night after a construction company failed to respond properly to weather warnings, local government officials said.
The victims were workers who were cleaning drainage systems in Luohu and Futian districts that were hit by a flash flood created by the downpour, the Shenzhen Emergency Management Office said on Weibo.
Twelve staff in Luohu were cleaning an underground drainage pipe at 9.40pm on Thursday when floodwater rushed in. Four people were rescued, while eight died, the emergency management department said.
The deluge hit four workers in Futian as they were dredging a riverside drain. One of the workers was rescued, while three bodies were recovered on Friday morning.
More heavy rain was forecast for Guangdong province.
Yin Xuekang, deputy director of the Futian District Water Resources Bureau, said the bureau had conducted safety inspections on all water-related construction projects this month, which marks the start of Shenzhen’s flood season.