Continuous rainstorms cause mudslides in Sichuan

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Continuous rainstorms in Sichuan Province have caused mudslides, affecting 55 thousand local residents. The heavy rain has already dealt an estimated 300 million yuan in economic loss to the city of Ya'an alone.

The mudslides blocked a key transport route linking Ya'an and Xichang. The little village of "Xiaobao" is right near the highway, and has been one of the villages most severely affected by the heavy downpours. Some villagers have had to come to terms with the loss of their homes.

Continuous rainstorms in Sichuan Province have caused mudslides, affecting 55 thousand local residents. The heavy rain has already dealt an estimated 300 million yuan in economic loss to the city of Ya'an alone.

Rebo, villager, said, "That was my brother's home. Three houses are completely buried under the stones. It's terrible!"

Homes and farms have been reduced to rubble. With nowhere to go, locals have piled their belongings on a bridge near their old homes. Amo is one of the victims who lost all his livestock and most of his belongs. But he counts himself lucky.

Amo, villager, said, "I heard noise from the mountain and saw the flood rushing down from up high. The houses were gone when the flood washed over them. My mind went blank all of a sudden. I just ran. I never saw this in my whole life. The flood rose slowly, but mudslide came fast, it seemed like it would never end. We were lucky this time because we got an early warning and no one was hurt. "

Continuous rainstorms in Sichuan Province have caused mudslides, affecting 55 thousand local residents. The heavy rain has already dealt an estimated 300 million yuan in economic loss to the city of Ya'an alone.

Another 32 villages in Hanyuan County have all suffered from the mudslide. 16 hundred homes have been destroyed and 17 hundred roads have been blocked. Water supplies have been disrupted, leaving 55 thousand people with trouble finding clean drinking water.

The continuous downpour is pushing up water levels at the Three Gorges Dam past the flood level limit. Sluice gates have been opened to discharge floodwater. The upper reaches of the Yangtze River have also been rising rapidly. Local meteorological authorities say the heavy rain will continue, and are asking local government and residents to be prepared for more extreme weather over the next three or four days.

Continuous rainstorms in Sichuan Province have caused mudslides, affecting 55 thousand local residents. The heavy rain has already dealt an estimated 300 million yuan in economic loss to the city of Ya'an alone.