Xinhua News Agency+| Key Points of "Nine Rivers Downside" Flood Discharge | Rescue | Xinhua News Agency+

Tianjin, August 4th (Xinhua) - While making a phone call and keeping an eye on the latest briefing, Zhang Dongfang was busy inside the Tianjin Emergency Rescue Command Center. As the Deputy Director of the Water and Drought Disaster Rescue Department of the Tianjin Emergency Management Bureau, he has not returned home for several days and nights, and has been fully involved in the "tough battle" between Tianjin and rare floods.

Affected by Typhoon "Dussuri" moving northward, extreme rainfall occurred in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and other areas at the end of July. A large-scale flood occurred in the Haihe River basin, and numbered floods occurred successively in the Ziya River, Yongding River, and Daqing River. Tianjin, known as the "bottom of the nine rivers," faces a severe flood control situation.

Starting the first level emergency response for flood control, demolishing the water blocking cofferdam in the Yongding River floodplain, evacuating the masses, and activating the flood storage and detention area... In recent days, Tianjin has been racing against time and making every effort to cope with the passage of floods.

"Rain is a command, how can one sleep?"

Zhang Dongfang, who had hardly slept a night before dawn, sat in front of the duty desk again, staring at the computer screen and beginning his busy day. "Last night, the water from Yongding River and Daqing River was relatively stable and there were no dangerous situations. After repeatedly confirming with various departments that there were no abnormal situations, Zhang Dongfang breathed a sigh of relief with a tired look in his eyes." After another night, we finally managed to get through safely. ".

On August 3rd, in Taitou Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin, workers participated in the elevation and reinforcement work of the Daqing Hebei Embankment. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue

On July 28th, sustained heavy rainfall hit the Haihe River Basin, prompting Tianjin to urgently activate a Level IV flood control emergency response. Two days ago, Zhang Dongfang stayed at the command center and made emergency preparations.

"The flood control situation in Tianjin is very complex." Zhang Dongfang said that the "nine" in the "nine rivers at the bottom" is a virtual reference, indicating that Tianjin's water system is developed. Therefore, the focus of flood control in Tianjin is to prevent floods at the upper level, prevent drainage in the middle, prevent sea tides at the lower level, and prevent mountain floods in the north.

Zhang Dongfang is on duty at the Tianjin Emergency Rescue Command Center. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Jianglin

With the increase of upstream water, Tianjin upgraded its flood control level I emergency response in the early morning of August 1st, and the situation suddenly escalated. Standing at the command center, Zhang Dongfang participated in command and coordination, flood situation analysis, dispatch and deployment, and information dissemination... He experienced unprecedented busyness until 4 a.m. on the 2nd, when he squinted on the seat in the duty room for a while. Above him was a flood prevention and rescue project map, "It was said to be sleeping, but how could one sleep?"

On August 1st, in Shaoqidi Village, Huanghuadian Town, Wuqing District, Tianjin, village volunteers patrolled the riverbank. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue

"Rain is a command." Wang Hongfu, Deputy Director of the Tianjin Water Bureau, who is coordinating and dispatching flood control on the front line of the Daqing River in Tianjin, said that in recent days, more than 70000 cadres have been deployed at both levels of the Tianjin urban area to the front line of flood control. Some of them have been on duty for 24 hours continuously in the command hall, some have set up camps on the riverbank, and some are fighting hard on the front line of rescue.

"No one is left behind, all must be safely transferred"

Diliu Bu Village, Xinkou Town, Xiqing District, Tianjin is located at the intersection of Daqing River, Ziya River, and Duliujian River. Part of the village is located in the Dongdian Flood Storage and Detention Area, which is a crucial location for flood control in Tianjin.

For the convenience of flood discharge, a 200 meter long cement road located in the Dongdian Flood Storage and Detention Area of Liubu Village has been excavated. Standing at the edge of the gap, looking at the vegetable greenhouses that were about to be submerged by the flood, 50 year old village party secretary Hao Qingshui's eyes were slightly moist.

On August 3rd, flood control personnel measured the width of the embankment on the banks of the Ziya River in Xinkou Town, Xiqing District, Tianjin. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ran

At 2:00 am on August 1st, the Dongdian flood storage and detention area was put into operation. After receiving the evacuation order, Hao Qingshui didn't say a word and took over 100 party members, cadres, and volunteers from the village to work, carrying quick acting heart saving pills with him. He didn't sleep much for several days and nights.

After the last crowd in the village moved, Hao Qingshui finally breathed a sigh of relief. "167 people have been evacuated from the village, some have turned to relatives and friends, while others have moved to centralized resettlement sites."

On the evening of August 3rd, Hao Qingshui inspected the construction of Zidi by the bank of Ziya River. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ran

Shuigaozhuang Village is also located within the Dongdian Flood Storage and Detention Area of Xiqing District. 69 year old Takashi Province and 68 year old Mr. and Mrs. Wang Yuhua were the first villagers to move to the resettlement site of Shuigaozhuang Industrial Park.

In a dormitory renovated from an office, there are two beds and one table, and the corners of the room are filled with daily necessities brought by the elderly couple.

"The food was delivered by someone, and there was also air conditioning in the room. The food and accommodation were both good," sighed Takashi Province.

Not only in Xiqing District, but also when the reporter passed by Nanbatai Village in Taitou Town, Jinghai District, the village was quiet. On the way, I met a 65 year old villager named Zhang Baoqi and said, "Everyone has moved away. I can't rest assured that I have raised over 20 sheep. I will come back and take them away. They are now living with relatives."

"If no one is left behind, they must be safely transferred," said Yang Zhiyong, Deputy Director of the Emergency Management Bureau of Xiqing District, Tianjin. The district has established 29 resettlement teams, and in addition to centralized resettlement sites in the village, some hotels, schools, and other places will also be used as backup resettlement sites.

As of 12:00 noon on August 3rd, more than 30000 residents in the Dongdian Flood Storage and Detention Area of Tianjin have completed the resettlement and transfer work. "With the previous relocation of the Yongding River floodplain and the Dahuangbao flood storage and detention area, more than 80000 people have been resettled and relocated in Tianjin after this round of flood," said Wang Yong, Deputy Director of the Office of the Tianjin Flood Control and Drought Relief Command and Deputy Director of the Emergency Management Bureau.

"Competing for time and space with floods"

The roar of the machines kept coming and going, and the waste soil transport vehicles shuttled back and forth, with over 170 excavators and bulldozers operating simultaneously. The gap sealing site in the Dongdian flood storage and detention area, located on both sides of the Ziya River in Taitou Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin, is bustling with enthusiasm.

Wearing a sunshade hat and with tanned skin, Cao Chengming, Deputy Director of the Tianjin Water Engineering Construction Affairs Center, saw the reporter and welcomed him, saying, "After the opening of the Dongdian Flood Storage and Detention Zone, floods may overflow. By urgently building this barrier, we can ensure that the Wen'anwa area is not affected."

Cao Chengming is at the site of gap sealing in the Dongdian flood storage and detention area.

In order to fill the gap before the flood arrived, Cao Chengming and more than 2000 emergency workers on site did not stop for a moment. "In these four days, we have done the workload that usually takes at least half a month to complete."

On August 3rd, the water level of the upstream backbone rivers of major river systems in the Haihe River Basin steadily declined. Tianjin, located at the end of the Haihe River Basin and bearing the heavy burden of about 75% of the floods entering the sea, has just begun the challenge of safe flood discharge.

On the afternoon of the 3rd, the gap sealing construction site in the Dongdian flood storage and detention area was completed. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Shao Xiangyun

Seize time with the flood, and never slack off. "All personnel and equipment were at full power, and 400 million cubic meters of water were discharged before the flood," said Liu Zhanyou, director of the Tianjin Water Engineering Operation and Dispatch Center.

At the easternmost end of the Dongdian Flood Storage and Detention Area, a nearly kilometer long sluice gate stretches across the intersection of the Daqing River and Ziya River. This is the Duliu Jian River flood gate, which serves as the inlet channel for upstream water from the Daqing River, Ziya River, and the South Canal.

"Starting from July 31st, all the gates will be opened to release water, and every effort will be made to create conditions for the discharge of the Daqing River flood." Zhang Songtao, Director of the Management Office of the Duliu Reduction River Flood Gate, said that in the past week, 110 million cubic meters of water have been discharged.

The South Sluice of Duliujian River in Tianjin, captured on August 2nd. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Sun Fanyue

"At present, floods are evolving from the upper and middle reaches to the downstream, and ensuring the safe discharge of floods into the sea is the next focus. Based on the overall flood control situation in the Beijing Tianjin Hebei region, we actively cooperate with the Ministry of Water Resources and upstream provinces and cities to carry out flood discharge and storage areas, accurately formulate flood control plans for 'interception, diversion, detention, discharge, and drainage', timely carry out river channel clearing and embankment reinforcement work in the storage and detention areas, and strive to create conditions for upstream flood discharge and reduce the flood pressure in the upstream areas," said Li Wenyun, Director of the Tianjin Water Bureau.

According to the latest news from the water department, the flood head of the Daqing River has reached Tianjin, and the flood control is still ongoing