Three hikers were dead and 23 still missing after a flood triggered by a heavy rainstorm hit east China's Jiangxi Province, local authorities said on July 22.

The downpour started at around 3 p.m. on Sunday in a mountainous area in Gaohu Town in the city of Yichun and trapped 285 hikers from three tourist groups, according to the Jiangxi provincial emergency management bureau.

In one group of 252 tourists, three hikers were dead and four others still missing. Another group of 19 tourists remained out of contact.

Local authorities have sent more than 530 rescuers to the affected area.