At approximately 2:30 a.m. on July 20, a rainstorm-triggered flash flood struck Xinhua Village in Malie Township, Hanyuan County, Ya'an City. This disaster interrupted communication and blocked roads and bridges in the area. A preliminary investigation showed that more than 30 people were missing, and over 40 houses were damaged. Following the disaster, Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, immediately issued instructions, putting forward requirements for the search and rescue of missing persons, in addition to other pertinent issues, and rushed to the disaster site on the afternoon of the same day to command the rescue operations. Shi Xiaolin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Acting Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, also issued directives and swiftly rushed to the disaster site from Aba Prefecture.
Upon arrival in Malie Township, Hanyuan County, Wang Xiaohui immediately visited the disaster site, assessing the damage en route and meticulously inquiring about the flood status, disaster impacts, emergency response activities, the resettlement of affected people, and the progress in the search and rescue of missing persons. He recognized the effective and orderly conduct of the initial response and conveyed his sympathies and gratitude to the professional rescue teams and all those involved in the rescue efforts. He remarked that the sudden flash flood disaster led to substantial property damage and human casualties, an event that was heart-wrenching. All-out efforts should be made to conduct an exhaustive search and rescue operation for the missing persons, with the objective of minimizing casualties to the maximum extent. At the emergency shelter in Malie Township, Wang Xiaohui visited the disaster-affected people who had been swiftly relocated and resettled, expressed the provincial Party committee and government's profound concern and sympathy, offered condolence to the families of victims and missing persons, encouraging them to remain resolve, and guaranteed that the Party committee and government would extend all possible assistance to alleviate their tangible difficulties. Wang Xiaohui emphasized the necessity of securing the basic living needs of the disaster-affected population, ensuring effective environmental hygiene and disinfection measures, guaranteeing they have access to food, clothing, clean water, timely medical care, and safe temporary residences, and meanwhile offering comprehensive psychological counseling for the families of victims and missing persons. Wang Xiaohui also went to the People's Hospital of Hanyuan County to visit the disaster-injured, urging them to prioritize their health, actively engage in their treatment, and strive for a swift recovery. He required relevant sides to exert all-out medical efforts on the injured individuals, with special emphasis on those with critical injuries, and that they be transferred to medical institutions with enhanced capabilities whenever conditions permitted.
At the emergency rescue headquarters established in the disaster site of Malie Township, Wang Xiaohui was briefed on the emergency rescue and disaster relief operations being undertaken by various entities. He stressed the urgency of maximizing this crucial time to thoroughly search for the missing and to provide comprehensive care for the injured. It is imperative to enforce scientific command and rescue operations, guarantee the safety of all search and rescue personnel, and proactively prevent any secondary disasters. Immediate action is required to repair and restore damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and communication systems, in order to resume normal production and living order as soon as possible. In the face of continuous heavy rainfall, it is imperative to sustain the deployment of teams to bolster surveillance and patrols in high-risk areas prone to flash floods and geological hazards, enhance monitoring and vigilance in key locations, such as areas near mountains and water bodies, rivers above alert levels, hillock ponds and reservoirs, steep side slopes, and flash flood outlets, take decisive actions to evacuate those potentially affected by disasters at the first sign of danger, and ensure a thorough and timely relocation, leaving no household or individual behind, to prevent any additional casualties.
Wang Xiaohui stressed that we are now in the key period from late July to early August for flood control, and all regions and departments throughout the province must be constantly prepared for major floods, emergencies, and disasters, further diligently execute the duties of all involved in a down-to-earth manner, enhance monitoring and early warning efforts, reinforce patrol activities and risk mitigation strategies, and execute flood control measures with meticulous and solid actions, to ensure the safety of people's lives and property. Party members and officials, particularly leaders at all levels, must maintain an unfailing sense of responsibility at all times, reinforce emergency duty shifts and on-call protocols, actively engage in flood control efforts at the ground level, ensure comprehensive preparedness for flood-related tasks, and collaborate seamlessly to triumph in this tough battle of flood control and disaster relief.
Provincial leaders Chen Wei and Dong Weimin, as well as leading officials from relevant provincial departments, were in attendance.