Rescuers raced Friday to seal a levee breach on the east bank of the Jialu River in Zhoukou, central China's Henan Province, after upstream flooding and backflow from the Shaying River triggered the collapse.
The breach, a break in the river embankment that lets floodwater escape, expanded rapidly as water flow intensified.
Authorities from the Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched 200 rescue workers from China Anneng Group, along with 110 pieces of heavy machinery, including amphibious excavators, loaders, and pontoon bridges, to seal the gap.
After an overnight operation, more than 70 meters of the breach have been filled.
Rescuers worked from both ends of the breach simultaneously, reinforcing the base with containers and filling the center with rocks. To overcome narrow embankment roads that blocked heavy trucks, they built five passing bays overnight to keep supplies moving.
Traffic control was tightened along a four‑kilometer stretch, with personnel stationed to coordinate vehicle flow and ensure a steady supply of materials.
Rescuers are currently working in rotating shifts, with heavy machinery running around the clock. Multiple teams are coordinating closely to speed up the final closure of the breach.
Rescuers race to seal levee breach in central China's Henan
Rescuers in the city of Pereira, western Colombia continued their desperate efforts on Thursday to comb through the rubble left by Monday's devastating earthquake, seeking signs of possible life.
The 7.5-magnitude quake struck the region at 07:34 local time on Monday, completely collapsing the eight-story Dibeni Hotel, a landmark in Pereira. At the time of the disaster, 13 people were inside the hotel, and as of Wednesday, eight bodies had been recovered from the debris.
To enhance their search efforts, search and rescue teams requested silence beginning at 14:00 on Thursday, listening intently for faint sounds that might indicate survivors. They repeatedly called into the wreckage, holding their breath in hopes of detecting a response. Sniffer dogs were deployed to help locate any possible remaining trapped individuals.
In a second effort for absolute silence, rescuers instructed everyone on site to refrain from talking or moving, turning off all machinery. Despite these extensive measures, the search did not yield the hoped-for results.
The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) reported on Friday that the death toll from the earthquake has risen to 287, with 3,975 injuries. The UNGRD’s latest update said that the quake affected 15 departments and 437 municipalities, impacting 56,448 families and 135,179 people.
Additionally, 378 people remain unaccounted for, while 354 have been rescued. The earthquake caused damage to 238 health centers, 2,486 schools, 2,093 community centers, 254 roads, 87 aqueducts, 50 vehicular bridges, seven pedestrian bridges, and five airports.
Desperate search for survivors continues after devastating earthquake in Pereira, Colombia
