A village in Yongjia county of Wenzhou was flooded as torrential downpour burst a nearby barrier lake, leaving 18 dead and 14 missing on Saturday.

The Shanzao village was submerged by the flood early Saturday morning after Typhoon Lekima made landfall at about 1:45 am on Saturday in Wenling of Zhejiang.

The mountain torrential flood, with its highest water level rising above 10 meters within 10 minutes, inundated the village, besieging 120 villagers who found out it was too late to retreat to higher safety places, the Yongjia government said.

Over 300 people were involved in the search and rescue mission at the village on Saturday.