The truck was crossing a low-water bridge in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County when it plunged into the river, state-run broadcaster CCTV reported. Five of the 15 people on board were rescued after the accident, according to authorities. The vehicle was transporting the workers to a local sweet potato farm.
Search and rescue efforts continued Sunday for the nine people who remain missing. More than 700 personnel were dispatched to the area, deploying underwater sonar devices, dinghies, and drones to locate the victims and the submerged truck, state media said.
Heavy rainfall in the region has produced torrents and raised the risk of landslides, complicating the operation. Rescue crews are working against difficult conditions as they search the river for any sign of the missing workers.