Xinhua All Media+| Race Against Time, No One Left Behind - Rescue on the Front Line of the Wuqiao Flood in Wanzhou, Chongqing, Directly Hitting Trapped | Street | Time
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.
On July 4th, members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team transferred trapped people in Wuqiao Street, Wanzhou District, Chongqing. Shen Jizhong
"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.
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.
On July 4th, members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team transferred trapped people in Wuqiao Street, Wanzhou District, Chongqing. Shen Jizhong
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.
On the morning of the 5th, after the rain, it cleared up and the bright sunshine fell on Wuqiao Street. People were rebuilding their homes with confidence.
Video reporters: He Ke and Wu Di
