Emergency crews have evacuated 443 people after heavy rains triggered severe floods in Yuzhong county, Gansu province.

According to a press conference held on Friday night, the disaster has affected 2,002 residents across eight townships after record-breaking rainfall, causing sudden flooding that damaged infrastructure, submerged farmland and destroyed homes.

At the press conference, Ju Hongwen, spokesperson for the Gansu Provincial Emergency Management Department, said the downpour began at 6pm on Thursday, with the heaviest rainfall — about 220.2 millimeters — recorded on Xinglong Mountain. Other areas, including Chengguan and Xiaokangying townships, also experienced record levels of rainfall.

ALSO READ: Guangzhou landslide victims sought; Zhengzhou raises flood control alert

Local authorities immediately mobilized emergency resources, deploying 717 rescue personnel from six regional teams. The operation included seven search dogs and sixteen rescue boats, with coordination support provided by the national northwest regional emergency rescue center.

Authorities were monitoring the situation on Saturday morning as the emergency response continued.