Reservoir Accused of Failing to Issue Timely Flood Alerts, Many People in Henan and Shaanxi Swept Away by Floods.

Several reservoirs in various provinces in China have released floodwaters, with villagers in Shaanxi Shangluo expressing that due to late flood warnings, multiple villagers were unable to escape in time and lost their lives to the floodwaters.

On July 19th, floodwaters from the Mangzhushan Reservoir in Manyuan Pass, Shanyang County, Shaanxi swept away 34-year-old Ye and his two daughters while they were evacuating. According to Mr. Le, Ye’s husband, who spoke to JiMu News on the 22nd, he was working in another city that day. Upon hearing that the nearby river was swelling rapidly, he called his wife, Ye, and advised her to bring their two daughters to the second floor of their house for safety, considering their higher ground elevation.

Mr. Le recounted that around 11 p.m. that night, village officials suddenly notified residents to evacuate to a nearby elementary school. However, before the villagers could reach the school, floodwaters from the reservoir arrived. At that moment, Ye was riding an electric bicycle with the two girls across a bridge over a mountain ditch when the sudden rush of floodwaters engulfed them. After the water receded a bit, with the help of villagers, the elder daughter was rescued, but tragically, Ye and the younger daughter did not survive. “The elder daughter is not yet 12 years old, while the younger daughter is only 1 year and 2 months old.”

Villager Zhang told NTD Television, “When the reservoir released floodwaters, disaster struck below. Two floors were submerged, our homes were gone, everything was washed away. When we were notified, the water was already at our doorstep, and we couldn’t leave. We could only run uphill towards the mountain slope at the back. Two people were not retrieved, swept away. So far, they have not been found. It’s so heartbreaking, so heartbreaking, too heartbreaking.”

Furthermore, in Henan province, at least dozens of reservoirs have been releasing floodwaters in succession, leading to flooding in Nanyang, Zhoukou, Shangqiu, and other areas.

A villager from Huaiyang County, Zhoukou, expressed to NTD Television, “These past few days of flood releases, the roads are all waterlogged, we can’t leave our village. Many corn crops in the fields have been flooded out. In Henan, many counties, including Zhoukou, are facing similar situations.”

She further revealed, “We have three children here, the eldest is 16 years old, the youngest is 13 years old. Two of them went to catch fish and died, and one is still missing. Just the other day, one child fell into a ditch while walking and was swept away.”

The incident has sparked discussions online. “Such a tragic event that should not have happened.” “Treating human lives as expendable.” “Why not evacuate first before releasing floodwaters?” “Is it illegal to release floodwaters after ensuring safe evacuation?” “So many questions, so much pain, who can provide answers, it’s always the grassroots who suffer.” “Several disasters have occurred, my fellow countrymen, stay safe.”