During the summer vacation in mainland China, which coincides with the rainy season in many regions, the mountainous areas of western Sichuan Province are prone to landslides due to heavy rainfall. On the afternoon of July 2nd, a car carrying 3 adults, 3 children, and the driver, a total of 7 people, veered off the road and plunged into a river in Aba County, Sichuan Province, resulting in 2 deaths and 5 people missing.
According to official Chinese media reports, the occupants of the car were three families from Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, who are relatives. Currently, two girls have been found deceased, while 4 adults and 1 child remain missing. Local rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining individuals.
A relative of the victims, Mrs. Shi, recounted that on the afternoon of July 2nd, three aunts were traveling with three children, totaling six people, plus the driver in Aba County en route to Seda County in Sichuan. The vehicle rolled off a cliff into the swift river below. The incident was reported to authorities by passersby.
Mrs. Shi stated to the media that the family only learned about the accident after 10 p.m. on July 2nd. Rescue teams found one girl in the car that evening and discovered another girl the following morning, both of whom had tragically lost their lives. The submerged car, along with luggage and backpacks, has been located.
Another family member, Mr. Zhu, revealed that the passengers in the car included his wife and 13-year-old daughter, his wife’s sister with her 13-year-old daughter, and his wife’s cousin with her 14-year-old daughter. The group of six families had planned to travel to Chengdu during their children’s summer vacation and had also visited Jiuzhaigou.
A friend of the sister was doing business in Seda County and invited them to visit. On July 2nd, the three families rented a car and were on their way from Aba County to Seda County when the tire burst, causing the car to plunge from the mountain into the river.
When the car was salvaged that day, only the 13-year-old daughter of the sister was found, while the 14-year-old daughter of the cousin was found the next day, both deceased. Mr. Zhu’s wife and daughter are still missing. Mr. Zhu mentioned that there were no surveillance cameras along the accident-prone road section, with an approximately 10-meter drop between the road and the riverbed, exacerbated by rising water levels due to recent night-time rainfall.
Local emergency response authorities stated that rescue efforts are ongoing, especially with recent mudslide disasters in the area, complicating the search operations.