Seven people died! Why do "internet celebrity" attractions keep taking lives? 7 deaths | Fish scale Dam | Ya'an, Sichuan
On August 9th, 11 people in Yucheng District, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, were swept away by the rising river water at the Fish Scale Dam of the Longxi River. Currently, 4 people have been rescued and 7 have died. According to reports, the river where the incident occurred has multiple semi-circular dams shaped like fish scales, which are local "internet famous" attractions and attract many tourists to play in the water on weekdays.
The lesson of blood is heartbreaking, and what's even more heartbreaking is the repeated tragedy of "internet celebrity" scenic spots taking their lives, which is not the first time. In 2019, 13 tourists died due to a sudden flash flood at the popular tourist attraction in Enshi, Hubei Province, China. In August 2022, a flash flood occurred in Longcao Gully, Pengzhou, Chengdu, Sichuan, resulting in the death of 7 tourists who were not evacuated in a timely manner. In July of this year, an 18-year-old college student unfortunately drowned in the waters of the "Internet celebrity" mine in Laoxing Village, Jiayu Town, Xingyang, Henan Province
Some tourists seek novelty, adventure, and excitement, but at the same time lack safety awareness, knowledge, and skills, which is an important reason for the repeated deaths of "internet celebrity" attractions. The current "internet celebrity" attractions are no longer just about "appearance". Open social networking sites, and among the "internet celebrity" attractions that focus on "planting grass", there are many who use the gimmicks of "wild", "secret realm", and "niche". The reason behind this is that "high looks" are certainly "popular" and can easily attract envy and likes. Being unique and unique can better showcase taste, catch people's attention, and also make it easier to become popular and stand out. However, these "wild", secret, and niche attractions often carry greater security risks lurking.
According to reports, on August 8th, the local water conservancy and meteorological departments in Ya'an issued a warning, warning that due to the impact of rainfall, there is a high possibility of meteorological risks of mountain flood disasters in some areas such as Yucheng District. If tourists have sufficient safety awareness, they should recognize that rivers and dams themselves have significant safety risks, and are prone to dangerous situations such as river flooding during the rainy summer season. Especially when relevant departments issue warnings, one should not risk themselves. There are also some routes to popular tourist attractions that are difficult to take and pose high safety risks. Only professionals who have received specialized training and practical experience are suitable to participate. For tourists who have neither received training nor experience, if their minds heat up and they go to "check in", safety hazards have actually been quietly buried.
Undeveloped scenic spots lack operational management, inadequate safety protection measures, and ineffective elimination of safety hazards. Accidents in complex, steep, and hidden terrain often increase the difficulty of professional rescue. In sparsely populated and niche attractions, it is also difficult for tourists to obtain help from other tourists.
Some tourists disregard management rules, which is also another important reason why "internet famous" scenic spots take their lives. From past tragic events, although some "internet celebrity" attractions do not have specific operational management personnel, they do not lack corresponding safety warnings. In Longcao Gully, Pengzhou, Chengdu, not only was a fence set up at the site of the incident, but personnel were also organized to conduct patrols and dissuade tourists. However, even so, it was not possible to prevent tourists from opening the fence and entering the play area. In Laoxing Village, Jiayu Town, Xingyang, Henan Province, a fence has been set up on the road leading to the water area of the "Internet famous" mine, and there are warning signs that "no passage, consequences are at your own risk". However, some tourists have turned a blind eye to this. Even a warning sign with the words "Deep water danger, no diving, violators will bear the consequences" was dismantled and thrown into the water.
In addition, some online platforms that promote the popularity of "internet famous" scenic spots have not fulfilled their responsibilities of providing reminders and warnings, which is also a factor that cannot be ignored. Open some popular social media platforms and you can find that their recommended "internet celebrity" attractions cover ruins, caves, jungles, canyons, and other places. Many attractions are located in remote areas and pose high security risks. However, online platforms rarely mention this security risk, and there are fewer clear and eye-catching prompts and warning messages. This approach of only emphasizing "grass planting" and promotion, avoiding the responsibility of "lightning protection" and "pit avoidance", is not conducive to tourists forming a complete understanding of "internet famous" scenic spots, and is prone to ignoring the hidden safety risks under the beautiful appearance, objectively promoting the recurrence of dangerous situations.
