XINING - A flash flood in Northwest China's Qinghai province killed four railway workers and left another missing on Saturday, local authorities said.

The four workers were washed away by the flood at about 3 am in Datong Hui and Tu autonomous county in the city of Xining, capital of Qinghai, following a rainstorm, according to the prefectural government.

The rainstorm, which started Friday night, has also unleashed floods and landslides in several villages, forcing the evacuation of more than 3,500 local residents, the government said.

One of the landslides also damaged a local highway. Rescuers have been sent to repair the road and search for the missing worker.