Rescue teams swiftly moved into action to save trapped residents as heavy downpours and rising currents unleashed devastating floods across several counties in southwest China's Guizhou Province, prompting large-scale evacuations.
Over the past two days, relentless rainfall has caused the Duliu River to burst its banks, leading to widespread waterlogging, which has left many residents stranded. In response, local rescue departments quickly activated emergency protocols and launched comprehensive efforts to aid those affected.
In Rongjiang County, the swollen Duliu River has submerged the ground floors of riverside homes. Rescue teams, equipped with speedboats, conducted exhaustive search operations along the waterway. Inside one flooded residence, they found an 80-year-old man suffering from emphysema and unable to evacuate due to breathing difficulties. Rescuers promptly deployed a ladder to facilitate his rescue. With the swift response of rescue workers, the elderly man was successfully transferred to a speedboat and quickly transported to the hospital for treatment.
In another residential house, steel bars on the windows obstructed escape routes. Rescue workers quickly used tools to dismantle the barriers, successfully evacuating the trapped elderly residents.
In low-lying areas near the river, where water depths reached up to two meters, a man clung to a lamp post while awaiting rescue. Speedboat teams arrived just in time to bring him to safety.
In Congjiang County, the rescue department and public security teams formed a joint effort to systematically check each household for stranded residents.
As of 07:00 on Wednesday, emergency response teams had rescued 765 people and evacuated 2,166. With the flood peak having passed and water levels receding, authorities swiftly transitioned to post-disaster recovery efforts, focusing on silt removal and drainage to help residents restore normal life as quickly as possible.
Tianzhu County in the province has also suffered extensive flood damage, with farmland, roads, and water conservancy facilities severely affected. Once the floodwaters receded, local officials acted quickly, heading into the fields to assist farmers with resuming agricultural production. They provided technical guidance and pest control services to aid recovery.
On Wednesday, shortly after the flood subsided, more than 10 local officials visited disaster-stricken areas in Tianzhu County, helping farmers harvest peppers ready for market.
"We have organized the members of the Communist Party of China and officials to assist at the disaster-stricken pepper farms, helping growers pick peppers and recover production materials to minimize their losses," said Yang Shunyu, a local official.
Additionally, local authorities organized drone operations to spray pesticides in several affected towns to prevent crop diseases.
Rescue teams lead relief efforts as devastating floods drench Guizhou
