Wenchuan County in western China's Sichuan Province, which shocked the country with its devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake in 2008, conducted a comprehensive 2025 flood control and disaster reduction drill on Monday, marking the 17th National Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day in the country.
Since 2009, China observes the National Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day on May 12, which commemorates the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake that left more than 80,000 people dead or missing.
The Monday exercise in Wenchuan simulated emergency response to torrential rain-triggered mudslides, showcasing cutting-edge technologies to strengthen disaster resilience under the year's theme, "Safety for All, Emergency Preparedness for Everyone."
The Wenchuan County government organized the drill, recreating catastrophic scenarios, including road blockages, power outages, and personnel stranding caused by hypothetical mudslides at several locations in Yingxiu Town.
Personnel from several departments, from emergency management and meteorology to power supply agencies, collaborated to execute 16 practical tasks across two phases: early storm warning and mass evacuation, followed by on-site emergency response.
Several key technological innovations were highlighted in the drill. Robotic "rescue dog" were seen to be delivering essential supplies to cut-off areas, while millimeter-wave radar life detectors pinpointed trapped individuals through debris.
Drones with 3D modeling mapped disaster zones within minutes while mobile meteorological radar updated rainfall data every six minutes, enabling real-time decision-making.
"Over the past few years, we introduced a series of quality high-tech equipment which has not only saved us manpower but also improved the rescue efficiency," said Deng Tiancai, a firefighter at Wenchuan County Fire and Rescue Brigade.
The exercise also demonstrated breakthroughs in integrated air-space-ground monitoring, intelligent life rescue systems, and digital civilian support platforms.
Relief drill held in western China's Wenchuan to observe 17th Disaster Prevention and Reduction Day
