Emergency rescue teams have deployed drainage robots to combat the severe flooding in Hohhot, capital of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region following days of heavy rainfall.
The drainage robot, capable of pumping up to 1,000 cubic meters of water per hour, can be operated remotely. It allows rescue teams to work efficiently without entering hazardous zones.
In addition, other equipment, such as a pump truck with a telescopic arm and a mobile command cabin equipped with 5G and satellite communications, have been used to battle flooding in the inundated area of Dahei River in Togtoh County, where the flooding has prompted large-scale emergency rescue operations.
"These high-tech tools aren't just more powerful. They're more like mechanical arms for our rescue teams, so that we can operate safely in more difficult and complex environments," said Wang Hu, commander of the Langfang team of the national oil and gas pipeline emergency rescue.
Recent heavy rains have caused severe flooding in Hohhot, endangering nearby towns and villages. China has deployed 11 national rescue teams to conduct emergency relief efforts.
The Langfang team mobilized 37 personnel, 10 rescue vehicles, and 127 pieces of equipment, pumping out a total of 200,000 cubic meters of water.
Together, the 11 teams can pump out water at a combined rate of 87,000 cubic meters per hour, with drainage efforts still underway.
China deploys drainage robots to battle flooding in Inner Mongolia
Russia on Friday reported seizing eight cities and towns over the past week, while Ukraine claimed on the same day that its forces had stabilized the situation in the direction of Kupyansk, according to two separate statements released by the two sides.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said in its latest report that over the past week, its forces had controlled eight cities and towns, including Seversk, over the past week in the special military operation zone.
It also said that in response to Ukraine's attacks on the civilian facilities in Russia, the Russian armed forces had launched one large-scale attack and five coordinated attacks from Dec 6 to Dec 12.
The targets included Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises and their associated fuel and energy facilities, transportation infrastructure, and airports and ports used for Ukrainian military operations, as well as temporary deployment points of the Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries.
The National Guard of Ukraine reported advances in the direction of Kupyansk, controlling two settlements and multiple districts in the northern part of the city and cutting off Russia's supply lines to the strategic hub.
It said the situation in the direction of Kupyansk had been stabilized.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Friday that its forces had attacked a Russian oil refinery in the Yaroslavl region, aiming to cut off the Russian military's fuel supply chain.
It also said that on the same day, the Ukrainian forces had launched multiple attacks in the direction of Donetsk, destroying a Russian ammunition depot and hitting a concentration site of Russian personnel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday on X that he had visited the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine.
During the visit, he met with the Ukrainian troops to mark the Land Forces Day and presented state awards to them.
Kupyansk, a key rail and road logistics hub, has seen intense battles since the autumn of 2024. In November this year, the Russian forces claimed that they had captured the city, according to local media reports.
Russia reports seizing settlements as Ukraine claims gains in direction of Kupyansk
