At least five people, including four children, were flushed away by a flash flood Friday morning after continuous torrential rain in Guizhou Province, according to local rescuers.

Witnesses said they saw one adult and four children carried away by the flooded Xiangjiang River in Zunyi City around 11 a.m. Friday.

Rescuers said some locals who were fishing and others near the riverside had been swept away. However, the rescuers could not confirm exactly how many people were missing.

The emergency office of the city government said heavy rain had pounded Zunyi since 4 a.m. Friday.