Stranded rescuers evacuated to safety after missing for 21 hours in Sichuan

(ECNS) -- Twenty-four special police who had been stranded in Hailuogou Scenic Area in Luding County, southwest China's Sichuan Province were evacuated to safety by helicopter on Saturday after missing for 21 hours.

After a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Luding County, 24 special police took the lead to the epicenter - Hailuogou Scenic Area. From Monday to Wednesday, they had transferred 216 trapped people.

On Wednesday night, sustained rainfall began in the quake-hit area, and helicopters no longer had flight conditions to take rescuers back. In the past two days, police have got in touch with the headquarter only by satellite phone.

Due to continuous aftershocks and bad weather, the satellite phone was disconnected on Thursday.

On Friday morning, the rescue headquarters finally got in contact with all stranded rescuers.