Rescuers master challenge as floodwaters take toll

Village mission

The boat team leader said: "We will go to Diaowo village again to check. There are four villages in Diaowo, and many people must be trapped there."

Poplar trees on both sides of the country road leading to Diaowo were no longer visible, with floodwater reaching the top of courtyard walls in the village.

Inside houses, everything was submerged. Through the windows, furniture could be glimpsed floating in the water.

A large pig and several chickens were floating on pieces of wood, while a group of villagers standing on rooftops waved for us to come closer.

The boat navigated alleyways in Diaowo, occasionally bumping into utility poles. The entire village was flooded and there was no cellphone signal. It felt like a remote island.

Liu Liu, a villager from Diaowo, carried her 6-month-old baby with the help of the rescue team. She climbed onto the motorboat from the rooftop of a room in her courtyard, accompanied by her father and sister-in-law.

"I only brought a few pieces of baby clothing with me — many other things are soaked and cannot be used," Liu said.

She told her baby: "Don't be afraid. It will be all right soon." The infant's crying sounded especially loud, breaking the silence together with the sound of the motorboat engine.

The vessel made its way through the village, but due to limited access, it was not suitable for rescue operations. Several rescue team members riding water motorcycles passed by.

The helmsman said, "You guys ride your motorcycles to pick up people in the village, and we'll wait on the main road to provide support."

The boat leader then teamed up with Blue Sky Rescue team members riding the water motorcycles — significantly improving the speed and efficiency of the operation.

One Blue Sky Rescue team member said: "Let's quickly make two more trips to bring people to safety while there is still light. We don't want them to be stuck in the village overnight. It will be unsafe without electricity if the water rises again."

The sky gradually began to darken, while a thin mist rose from the water surface, reducing visibility and making the rescue operation increasingly difficult.

With no phone signal in the village, I was unable to send my report back to Beijing, so I decided to turn back, following a speedboat.

As we approached the temporary dock, I saw a large group of rescue team members anxiously waiting in the distance.

Upon returning to safety, I immediately felt at ease. Alongside me, a young man carried his pet cat in a backpack as he disembarked from the speedboat.

Glad to be alive while having experienced the aftermath of nature's fury, I could sense the compassion and care of humans amid the relentless floodwaters.

wangjing7@chinadaily.com.cn