Firefighters across China's coastal areas are stepping up preparedness to respond to beachside emergencies as sudden tidal surges begin to threaten visitor outings.
In early May, five tourists, including a child, were stranded on a rock after a rapidly rising tide caught them off guard at a coastal park in Rizhao City, east China's Shandong Province.
By the time firefighters arrived in response to their emergency call, they were about 100 meters away from the shore, and the rising seawater had completely submerged the rock, reaching their knees.
The responders safely transported the child and his parent to shore with a rescue dinghy, while the other three adults were moved to land with the help of local fishermen.
A similar incident occurred recently in Yuyao City, east China's Zhejiang Province, as over a dozen tourists were trapped by sudden tidal surges while crabbing on the mudflats of the Hangzhou Bay.
The tide had already risen to waist-deep levels when local firefighters and police arrived at the scene.
With victims scattered across the area, responders waded into the waters carrying life jackets and rings to conduct one-on-one rescues, saving all the trapped individuals without injuries.
In April, two teenagers in Qingdao, another city of Shandong Province, were stranded on a small island 200 meters offshore after a high tide submerged the connecting path.
With boats unable to reach them due to rocky terrain, firefighters waded through the water, securing the young beachgoers with swift-water life vests and safety harnesses before safely escorting them to shore.
Tide-related rescues increase as summer heats up
