The frontline rescue of the flood disaster was launched directly, and the National Flood Control Working Group went to Chongqing to guide flood control and disaster relief work. Street | Rescue | Disaster Relief

The National Flood Control Working Group went to Chongqing to guide flood control and disaster relief work

On July 5th, the reporter learned from the Ministry of Emergency Management that in the early morning of that day, the National Defense Administration dispatched a working group led by Wang Daoshi, Deputy Minister of Emergency Management and Deputy Minister of Water Resources, to Wanzhou, Chongqing to guide flood prevention, rescue and disaster relief work.

From July 3 to 4, many places in Wanzhou District of Chongqing were hit by rainstorm, causing floods and geological disasters. On the 3rd, the National Flood Control Administration launched a Level 4 emergency response for flood control in provinces such as Chongqing. On the afternoon of the 4th, the National Disaster Reduction Commission and the Ministry of Emergency Management launched the national level IV disaster relief emergency response. On the evening of the 4th, the relevant person in charge of the Emergency Management Department made a video connection with the person in charge of the National Emergency Command Headquarters, the Chongqing Municipal Government, the Chongqing Emergency Management Bureau, the Chongqing Fire Rescue Brigade, and the Chongqing Wanzhou Fire Rescue Detachment to dispatch and guide flood control and disaster relief work. They requested to strengthen the implementation of responsibility measures, ensure rescue safety, strictly prevent secondary disasters, and provide basic living support for disaster victims. At the same time, they closely monitored the rain situation in surrounding counties and districts in the next 24 hours, and strengthened their prevention and response preparations.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management have urgently allocated 320 million yuan to support local efforts in flood prevention and disaster relief

On the 5th, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management urgently allocated 320 million yuan of central natural disaster relief funds to support 16 provinces including Chongqing and Sichuan in carrying out flood and geological disaster relief work.

Among them, 250 million yuan was allocated for flood prevention and disaster relief, and 70 million yuan was allocated for geological disaster relief. Local governments will coordinate the use of these funds for emergency rescue and assistance to the affected population, with a focus on emergency response measures such as search and rescue, relocation and resettlement of affected individuals, hazard elimination, and other measures, as well as carrying out secondary disaster hazard investigation and emergency rectification, and repairing damaged residential buildings.

The Ministry of Finance requires all provincial-level financial departments to timely allocate central government subsidy funds, effectively strengthen fund supervision, fully leverage the benefits of funds, prioritize the safety of people's lives and property, and minimize casualties and property losses.

Race against Time, No One Left Behind - Direct Rescue for the Flood Disaster at Wuqiao Bridge in Wanzhou, Chongqing

Affected by consecutive days of heavy rainfall, the water level of Wuqiao River, a primary tributary of the Yangtze River located in Wanzhou District, Chongqing, continues to rise. On the early morning of July 4th, low-lying areas such as Hongxing Street and Wuyi Street in Wuqiao Street, Wanzhou District, near the Wuqiao River, experienced flooding and road waterlogging, resulting in a large number of houses being flooded and dangerous situations surging. Local residents recalled seeing heavy rain, water spreading from the river to the road, and shops and residential buildings on the first floor facing the street being flooded.

The rain situation is becoming increasingly severe. At 4:50 am, Wuqiao Street launched an emergency flood control response; At 5 o'clock, a rapid alarm sounded over Wuqiao Old Street, awakening the sleeping residents.

"While everyone was still asleep, rescue workers knocked on the door and organized us to evacuate in time, ultimately avoiding the flood," recalled Fan Qiquan, a resident of Wujianqiao Community in Wuqiao Street.

"The flood is rising, get up quickly!" Xiang Quanxin is a local enthusiastic person who assists in flood prevention. He knocked on the doors of residents from door to door, urging everyone to evacuate as soon as possible. "I pounded against the door with my hands and shouted at the top of my lungs, my throat almost bursting," said Quanxin.

On July 4th, in Wuqiao Street, Wanzhou District, Chongqing, firefighters used assault boats to rescue and transport trapped people. Shen Jizhong

Time passed by minute by second, and residents in the area of Wuqiao Old Street were evacuated in an orderly manner under the organization of rescue personnel. Xiang Quanxin also knocked on the doors of more than 20 households, and the residents who learned about the water situation immediately set off to take refuge at a high place.

Transfer the masses, not a single one can be omitted. 78 year old Zhang Shenglan has difficulty moving and transferring, and is trapped at home. After learning about this situation, Zhou Dong, a staff member of Wuqiao Street, and Cheng Qihua, a police officer, rushed to her home in a timely manner. At this point, the flood has risen to the middle of Zhang Shenglan's rolling gate. But due to too much sediment in the flood, the key cannot be inserted into the lock, and the door cannot be opened.

Seeing the dangerous rain and rising floods, the situation is extremely critical and we must make a decisive decision! Zhou Dong found an axe and smashed a hole in the door. Zhou Dong and Cheng Qihua took the opportunity to smash and tear the iron sheet on the rolling gate, forming a large hole. The two climbed into the hole and quickly rescued Zhang Shenglan from inside the house. Emergency rescue personnel escorted the elderly to a safe area along the way.

The relevant person in charge of Wanzhou District introduced that after the flood occurred in Wuqiao Street, the district organized multiple forces of more than 500 people to participate in the rescue, safely transferred more than 4500 people, and rescued 112 trapped people.

Environmental sanitation workers are carrying out dredging operations. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Xing

As a mountainous river, the Wuqiao River experiences fierce rising water and fast receding water. The reporter saw at the scene that at noon on the 4th, the flood had completely receded. The local government organized all forces to seize the time to carry out dredging operations, sanitary disinfection and sterilization, smooth access, electricity, water and other infrastructure, ensure temporary resettlement, and fully restore production and living order.

On the old streets ravaged by floods, the reporter saw residents and merchants busy clearing mud, storing and cleaning various items along the street. Along the way, many armed police officers and soldiers, militia teams, and sanitation workers collaborate to carry out dredging operations.

"With everyone's help, the mud at home has been basically cleared," said Fu Zhaoming, a resident of Wujianqiao Community. He also wants to invest himself in post disaster reconstruction, help those in need, and work with everyone to restore normal life as soon as possible.