Heavy rains leave 3 missing in central China underground garage

CHANGSHA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Torrential rainfall has caused severe urban flooding in Longshan County, central China's Hunan Province, leaving three people missing after they were trapped in an underground parking garage, local authorities said on Friday.

Water levels in the county's Guoli River surged after days of heavy rain, triggering historic flooding and causing water to backflow into an underground garage at a residential compound, according to the Longshan County's publicity department.

Four residents reportedly entered the garage on Thursday in an attempt to move their vehicles. One person was rescued early Friday at 4:35 a.m. and is in stable condition. Firefighters are continuing search and rescue operations for the remaining three.

Heavy downpours have battered Longshan County since Wednesday evening, inundating several residential compounds. Authorities raised the flood emergency response to the second-highest level by 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. ■