Photo: Screenshot from CCTV

A popular tourist spot in Ya'an in Southwest China's Sichuan Province encountered a sudden rise in water levels in the river on Wednesday, resulting in at least seven deaths.

Search and rescue efforts remain underway. According to preliminary information from local government officials, a total of 11 people were swept away by the water, four people have been rescued while seven have been confirmed dead.

The incident occurred at a popular tourist spot known as "Yulinba" in the city of Ya'an in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. A video from the scene showed multiple fish-scale-shaped semi-circular water dams have been built on the river channel. The turbulent river water overflowed from the dams leading to several people being swept away by the current.

On Tuesday at 17:36, the authorities in Ya'an issued a flash flood meteorological disaster risk warning, indicating that there is a high possibility of flooding in some areas of Ya'an in the next 24 hours.

A nearby merchant said that the water level was not high under normal circumstances, and many tourists came to enjoy the scenery and take photos. Given the sudden flood, the river is now inaccessible, according to media reports.

Global Times