Rescuers are searching for five workers who were washed away by a flood Tuesday in the county of Fangxian, central China's Hubei Province.

Liu Kui, an official with the local government, said a heavy rainstorm hit the county Tuesday afternoon and the accident occurred in a reservoir.

The flood arrived at the Liuyuanpu Reservoir, located in the village of Shuangwan around 4:00 PM and swept five workers who were fortifying the dam of the headrace tunnel into the tunnel.

The local government dispatched more than 300 people, including policemen and troops, for the rescue operation. The provincial government has also sent divers to join in the search.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2005)