These incidents occurred in the Xiang River area, as Hunan province is heavily affected by Typhoon Gaemi.
According to the Global Times, the first dike breach occurred around 6:40 PM on July 28, at a section of the Juanshui River in Huashi town. This river is a tributary of the Xiang River, an important river in the area. At least 800 residents living near this dike section were immediately evacuated to ensure safety.
Just a few hours later, around 8 PM on the same day, another dike breach occurred at the Sixin dike in Yisuhe town, Xiangtan county. Initially, the breach on this dike was over 50 meters wide, but by 3:58 AM on July 29, it had expanded to 77 meters, causing severe flooding.
More than 3,800 residents from the two villages of Xintang and Xinhu had to be evacuated to safe areas. In total, over 4,600 people were evacuated in these two dike breaches. Currently, there are no reports of casualties.
To respond to this emergency situation, the Ministry of Emergency Management of China has mobilized 1,205 people, including armed police, militia, and professional rescue forces, to participate in rescue and relief efforts. Temporary shelters have been set up at four local schools to accommodate the evacuated residents.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Management of China, the cause of these dike breaches is the impact of Typhoon Gaemi, which has brought prolonged heavy rains to Hunan. From Saturday evening (July 27) to Monday (July 29), some areas in the province experienced extremely heavy rainfall, putting great pressure on the local dike system.
Rescue and recovery efforts are being urgently carried out, with the participation of many forces and relevant agencies. Local authorities are making every effort to ensure the safety of residents, while also implementing measures to prevent flooding and minimize damage caused by natural disasters.
