Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Guoqing urgently rushed to Tianjin to resolutely win the battle against flood prevention and disaster relief. State Council | Tianjin | Flood Control

He pointed out that the recent extreme heavy rainfall in the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region has posed a severe challenge to the downstream flood discharge of the Haihe River Basin. We should fully consider the uncertainty of upstream water inflow and strengthen and elevate weak and critical embankments with quality and quantity assurance before the subsequent peak flood arrives, ensuring that everything is safe and sound. Relevant central and local state-owned enterprises should play a professional role at critical moments. It is necessary to mobilize preset rescue materials and equipment in advance, arrange special forces, and carry out 24-hour non-stop patrol and inspection on river courses, flood areas and dikes. In case of emergencies, it is necessary to deal with them scientifically and efficiently at the first time, and strictly prevent piping, breach, overflow, dam collapse and other dangerous situations caused by continuous immersion. We need to strengthen hydrological and meteorological monitoring and information sharing, real-time grasp of flood flow and dynamics, comprehensive consideration of factors such as sea tide weather, and overall consideration of flood pressure and capacity in upstream and downstream, left and right banks, and main and branch areas. We need to strengthen the precise coordination and scheduling of various water conservancy projects in the basin, and scientifically and accurately grasp the rhythm of flood discharge. We need to further strengthen the management of the use of flood storage and detention areas, ensure that all personnel in high-risk areas are evacuated and no one is left behind, strictly implement traffic control and other measures, prevent unauthorized early return of relocated personnel, and resolutely avoid mass casualties. We should fully consider the practical difficulties faced by the relocated population, properly provide food, drinking water, clothing, medicine, and other supplies, ensure their basic living needs and medical needs, implement compensation and assistance policies as soon as possible, and ensure people's stability and social stability.

[News link]

The National Flood Control Office and the Ministry of Emergency Management deploy flood control and disaster relief work in key areas

On August 5, the National Flood Control General Office and the Emergency Management Department organized a rolling video conference on flood and typhoon prevention. They discussed with the China Meteorological Administration, the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Natural Resources to determine the development trend of rainstorm and flood disasters in North China and Northeast China and the sixth typhoon of this year, "Kanu". The video links the prevention offices of Tianjin, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Hebei and other provinces, and arranges the deployment of flood prevention and relief work in key areas.

The meeting pointed out that the current flood control period is still in the key period of "seven down and eight up", and the situation of typhoon rainstorm and flood is still very uncertain. We must objectively and soberly understand the severe situation of current flood prevention work, and resolutely fight the tough battle of flood prevention and disaster relief this year. We must make every effort to organize emergency rescue and rescue efforts, and rescue trapped and lost personnel as soon as possible. We need to quickly connect communication in disconnected villages, and urgently repair and connect infrastructure such as water damaged roads and electricity. We need to closely monitor changes in rainfall and water conditions, and scientifically schedule flood control projects.

At present, the National Flood Control Administration maintains a second level emergency response for flood control in Tianjin and Hebei, and a third level emergency response for flood control in Beijing, Jilin, and Heilongjiang. Ten flood prevention and disaster relief working groups dispatched by the General Administration of Flood Control and the National Disaster Reduction Commission have assisted and guided local flood prevention and disaster relief work in Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Jilin, Heilongjiang and other places.

In addition, the Emergency Management Department dispatched national firefighting and rescue teams, as well as national professional rescue teams, to the severely affected areas to fully support local rescue and disaster relief work. Among them, in response to the disaster in Zhuozhou, Hebei, the Shandong Fire Rescue Brigade was dispatched to reinforce across regions. As of 16:00 on the 5th, a total of 67 flood control and rescue tasks were carried out, rescuing and evacuating 1098 people in distress and trapped, with a total drainage volume of 317000 cubic meters.

Five Instantaneous Sketches of Tianjin Flood Control and Release "Panorama"

Since the end of July, the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region has experienced heavy rainfall, and there has been a large-scale flood in the Haihe River basin. With the continuous release of floods, Tianjin's flood control engineering system is undergoing severe tests. In recent days, multiple moments recorded by reporters during interviews have outlined a panoramic view of Tianjin's flood control and discharge, including urban drainage, dam reinforcement, relocation and resettlement, and inspection.

Early morning drainage to assist in flood prevention

The hour hand points towards midnight on August 2nd, and the city gradually returns to tranquility. Under the dim yellow street light, Guo Zhi, dressed in an orange waterproof coat, was busy pumping and draining water, working together with colleagues to carry out flood prevention and rescue work.

Having been working continuously for several hours, he felt a bit tired, but still dared not relax at all. Guo Zhi is the Minister of Drainage Services at the Housing and Construction Development Center of Hongqiao District, Tianjin. On the afternoon of the 1st, he and dozens of officials gathered and went to multiple locations in Hongqiao District, including Beicaiyuan and Yumen Sili.

At important locations such as tunnels and culverts, dedicated personnel conduct uninterrupted on-site inspections; In front of the newly improved smart drainage platform, staff are closely monitoring data changes

Guo Zhi introduced that in order to effectively respond to the flood situation and facilitate public transportation, he and his colleagues have been strictly guarding their positions. "If the accumulated water is not drained and personnel are not evacuated, we must race against time and compete with the rainfall for time," he said.

Morning sun rises early, busy building embankments

On the morning of August 3rd at 6 o'clock, Lv Yuandong, the Minister of Armed Forces of Taitou Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin, was directing the reinforcement work of the north embankment of the Taitou section of the Daqing River. It has just rained and the weather is slightly cool, but his clothes have already been soaked with sweat.

Taitou Town is located in the Daqing River and Ziya River basins, within the Dongdian Flood Storage and Detention Area. Its geographical location is dangerous, and the flood prevention task is arduous. In the Qing Dynasty, thousands of people were busy on the Hebei embankment, with bulldozers and transport vehicles constantly stopping. Tens of thousands of woven bags and ton bags were piled up, and the embankment was constantly raised and reinforced.

In Taitou Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin, workers are carrying out dam elevation and reinforcement on the north embankment of the Daqing River. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue

"Starting from July 31st, we began to build and reinforce the north embankment of the Daqing River and the 15 kilometer embankment of the Weidian, and constantly adjusted the construction plan according to the changes in water conditions." As he spoke, Lv Yuandong wiped his sweat and watched the rising water level of the Daqing River, his footsteps unconsciously getting a bit faster.

Midday patrol to ensure no one is left behind

"Is there anyone? Is there anyone?" Kou Zhiming, Secretary of the Party Branch of Shaoqidi Village, Huanghuadian Town, Wuqing District, Tianjin, shouted along the courtyard arranged in a straight line, knocking hard on the doors of each household

"The flood is coming tonight, we must ensure that no one falls." On the noon of August 1st, Kou Zhiming led several village officials to patrol the village. Just the day before this, Tianjin issued a red flood warning for the Yongding River, and personnel in the Yongding River floodplain were immediately relocated. Race against the flood, notify, investigate, and relocate... By the night of the 31st, all 626 people in the village confirmed their relocation and resettlement.

Transfer the crowd onto the bus and prepare to transfer to a temporary resettlement site. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue

"This is located at the border of Tianjin and Hebei, and is the 'first stop' for the Yongding River to enter Tianjin. The villagers have left, so we have to stay and help everyone collect medicine left at home, feed cattle and sheep, and patrol the riverbank at night. Kou Zhiming, who had not slept all night, spoke with exhaustion.".

At 22:10 on the same day, the flood head of the Yongding River reached the Shaoqi Embankment. Local water, emergency, public security, fire rescue and other departments still held on to the front line of the embankment, actively preventing and responding to unexpected situations.

Persuasion in the evening

"My fellow villager, the flood head of the Daqing River has already reached the territory of Tianjin. This is a flood storage and detention area, and there is a risk of being submerged. Don't come back in the next few days. We have to evacuate before the water comes." On the evening of August 4th, the sky was a bit dark. During the inspection, Guo Yiting, the Party Secretary of Heping Village, Taitou Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin, saw villagers returning to the village to retrieve their belongings and quickly approached to persuade them to leave. Watching the villagers leave by car, Guo Yi stopped before feeling relieved.

Guo Yiting is patrolling the village to ensure that all villagers have been relocated and resettled.

Floods have begun to overflow in some fields outside the village. During the inspection, Guo Yiting's shoes and socks were soaked as he passed by a small path overflowing with water. "The peak of the Daqing River flood is expected to arrive at Heping Village on the 6th, and all villagers have completed safe relocation and resettlement. In recent days, a very small number of villagers have returned to the village to retrieve their belongings. Our main task is to ensure their safe evacuation," she said.

"Who doesn't have a home? Who doesn't care about home? But when the flood comes, life is the most important." Guo Yiting said, "Let's stay and help pay attention to the situation of each family, so that everyone can feel at ease. Once there is a risk of flooding the embankment, we will hold on until the last moment before safely evacuating."

Late at night, all staff are on duty to ensure full flood discharge

On August 2nd at 22:00, Zhang Songtao commanded the completion of the day's gate patrol work while answering the phone and flipping through the duty log. As soon as he returned to the duty room, he was "pressed" by the phone in front of the workbench. After checking the water level data of the upstream and downstream, analyzing the inflow of water from the upstream, coordinating equipment maintenance, etc., he had less than 4 hours of rest time left for this night.

"The upstream floods continue to discharge, and we have a great responsibility to guard the flood discharge channel into the sea, which makes me unable to sleep." Zhang Songtao, Director of the Duliu Reducing River Inlet Sluice Management Office of the Haihe Downstream Management Bureau of the Ministry of Water Resources, has been on duty for six consecutive days and nights.

The Duliujian River flood gate, known as the "Three River Lock Key", consists of two large water gates in the north and south, spanning the intersection of the Daqing River and the Ziya River. On August 1st, after the emergency response was upgraded to level I, the flood gate entered a 24-hour on duty state for all personnel.

On August 2nd, the upstream water flowed into the Duliujian River after passing through the Tianjin Duliujian River flood gate. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue

"Starting from July 31st, all 36 gates of the flood gate will be opened for discharge, making every effort to create conditions for the discharge of the Daqing River flood." Zhang Songtao said.

According to the water department's report, at 12:00 on August 4th, the flood of the Daqing River had already reached the boundary of Tianjin. On August 5th, the flood will flow from the Duliujian River inlet gate into the Duliujian River and into the sea. The flood of Yongding River is still continuing to discharge, and the water level in the flood area and downstream of Yongding River is rising. The Ziya River flood is expected to arrive in Tianjin on the 9th.

The flood control and discharge work is still being carried out in a tense and orderly manner, and staff from various departments are sticking to the front line to jointly safeguard the safety of the Haihe River Basin