A once-in-a-century flood has swept the Ya’an section of the Qingyi River on August 18 even as water in the lower reaches of Dadu River and Minjiang River in Sichuan Province is expected to exceed warning levels. At 5:00 on the same day, Sichuan issued an unprecedented emergency response alert after a level I flood control emergency response was issued for the first time in the province’s history.

A once-in-a century flood sweeping through Ya'an

Heavy rainfall has lashed the west and northwest of Sichuan Basin since August 15 while heavy rainstorms have been recorded in Chengdu, Deyang, Mianyang, Ya'an, Leshan, Aba, Liangshan and other cities (prefectures). Consequently, cities are waterlogged, trees felled while landslides, broken roads and similar calamities have been recorded in many places, resulting in many expressways in the province being blocked. Sichuan police has launched its emergency response to tackle the situation and is fully participating in flood control and disaster relief, and is sparing no effort to protect lives and property.

A collapsed highway, Sichuan police command and guide blocked vehicles at the scene

A police officer digs through a blocked sewer entrance with his hand

The familiar sight of rescue teams in their dark blue and fluorescent yellow uniforms is of much comfort to the victims. The frontline workers have built solid safety walls and warm harbours for them. They are trying to ensure smooth flow of traffic, evacuation efforts and search and rescue. People can count on police to provide aid when they most need it.

On August 16, debris blocked the road in Qiaoqi Town of Baoxing County. Sichuan police officers participated in the rescue and carried the elderly and children to safety zones.

On August 16, debris blocked the road in Qiaoqi Town of Baoxing County. Sichuan police officers participated in the rescue and carried the elderly and children to safety zones.

On August 16, debris blocked the road in Qiaoqi Town of Baoxing County. Policemen carried rocks and tree trunks with their bare hands to rescue those who were trapped.

On August 16, debris blocked the road in Qiaoqi Town of Baoxing County. The police used simple tools to set up rescue ladders to rescue those who were trapped.

As on August 17, more than 17,900 rescue police and 4,400 vehicles have been deployed by Sichuan police to rescue more than 3,300 people and evacuating and rehabilitating more than 73,000 victims.(By Edina Liang)