Seven bodies found after flash flood

URUMQI, China, May 3 (UPI) -- The bodies of seven young girls were found in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region after a flash flood, authorities say.

Authorities said the elementary school students had been crossing a dried-out riverbed when the flash-flood occurred, adding that one student was still missing, Xinhua reported Friday.

The students were all girls from a nearby school who had been traveling home Wednesday when the flood overtook them. The Huocheng Health Bureau said the flood was caused by a seven-hour rainstorm.

An estimated 400 people have been searching for the lone missing girl's body, Xinhua said.

Meanwhile, the State Administration of Work Safety in Beijing said Saturday heavy rain was due for most of central and southern China during the next three days.

Contingency plans were implemented to prevent flooding from claiming any additional lives or damage during the forecasted rains, the state-run news agency reported.