12 dead, 1 missing in gorge flood

Tourists are advised to use caution and choose proper travel agencies, transport

Twelve people have been confirmed dead and one remains missing in a flash flood caused by heavy rain in a scenic area in central China's Hubei province on Sunday evening, local authorities said.

A downpour hit the Duobi Gorge late on Sunday and led to a fatal torrent in the mountainous region that besieged scores of tourists in the isolated scenic spot in Hefeng county, Hubei province.

Sixty-one travelers trapped in the primitive valley in the county's Pingshan Mountain had been evacuated by 1:30 am on Monday, and one remained missing. Most of them were on independent driving tours, according to a statement handed out by local authorities.

They will continue to search for the missing tourist at whatever cost and do their utmost to inter the victims and comfort the families, the statement said.

Early on Monday, the provincial tourism and cultural department urged authorities across the province to closely follow weather, flood and traffic information, and to issue warnings to travelers during the peak seasons for both tourism and rainfall.

It also ordered a blanket inspection of crowded tourist spots across Hubei to rule out any danger and shut down aquatic entertainment projects prone to mudslide, flood and landslide risks.

Local police said they were first alerted by a call around 6:40 pm on Sunday, claiming that multiple visitors were trapped in the gorge popular with adventurers. Six were reported dead and 30 trapped as of 8:30 pm.

Widely known as the Chinese Semporna for its crystal clear rivers that resemble the sea near the Malaysian diving resort, the gorge receives a large number of visitors yearly despite its poor connection with the outside world.

Home to the gorge and multiple other Pingshan Mountain scenic sites with unique ethnic Tujia culture, Hefeng was among the region's most isolated counties, without rail, highway, water or air connections, said the local fire department that spearheaded the rescue effort.

In April, local tourism and cultural authorities released a circular advising people not to visit the gorge and several other sites in Pingshan Mountain, as the area remains largely undeveloped with limited tourist service available.

It also advised travelers to use caution and choose agencies and transportation with proper qualifications when visiting other sites in the mountain, and to check the weather reports beforehand.

Li Yang, a financial analyst in Beijing who visited the gorge in May, said despite the warnings, many visitors have flocked to the primitive area about an hour's drive from the county seat through illegal tours provided by local villagers.

"There's no travel agencies offering tours to the gorge," he said, adding he paid 388 yuan ($55) to a villager who led him and five other visitors there along a bumpy mountain road and past multiple signs advertising similar services.

He said villagers were vigilant as the government would sometimes raid such activities, but demand remains intact: tourists crave better views upstream, while villagers want financial rewards.