Calls for investigation after drainage workers killed in Shenzhen floods
- Eleven people died when they were hit by flash flooding caused by a downpour on Thursday
- Local officials say a construction company failed to respond properly to a weather warning
All of the victims were municipal workers cleaning drainage systems in Luohu and Futian districts when they were hit by flash flooding caused by a downpour on Thursday.
Local government officials said a construction company had failed to take appropriate action at its engineering project site in response to a weather warning.
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 also engulfed 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.
The deaths have prompted calls for an investigation, with many people taking to social media to question how flash flooding could claim so many lives.