Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, and Shi Xiaolin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, inspect and inquire about the rescue situation at the collapsed bridge site on the Ya'an-Kangding Expressway, August 4, 2024.
At approximately 3:30 a.m. on August 3, a catastrophic flash flood and mudslide struck Ridi Village in Guzan Town, Kangding City, Ganzi Prefecture. This event led to the collapse of a bridge between the Ridi No. 1 and No. 2 tunnels along the Kangding to Luding sections of the Ya'an-Kangding Expressway and the destruction of residences in Ridi Village. The collapse resulted in multiple vehicles plummeting and individuals missing. As of 2:30 p.m. on August 4, the search has identified eight people killed and 19 missing. Rescue operations are proceeding in a tense and orderly manner.
Following the disaster, the provincial Party committee and provincial government have prioritized the situation in high importance. Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, immediately issued instructions, demanding a further verification of trapped vehicles and personnel and emphasizing the urgent organization of rescue operations to maximize efforts in saving the injured. Shi Xiaolin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, led a team to the disaster site in the afternoon of the same day to coordinate rescue and relief efforts, as delegated by Wang Xiaohui. After conducting several telephonic scheduling with the relevant sides at the forefront of the rescue operation, Wang Xiaohui rushed to the disaster site early on the morning of August 4 to guide the rescue and relief efforts.
Upon arriving in Kangding City's Guzan Town, Wang Xiaohui, along with Shi Xiaolin, who had arrived earlier, first inspected the site of the collapsed bridge on the Ya'an-Kangding Expressway, observed the debris removal and search operations, and inquired in detail about the progress of locating missing vehicles, rescuing individuals, the emergency traffic management measures, and other related work. Wang Xiaohui stressed the need to race against time, intensify search and locating operations, and conduct personnel rescue with a minute-by-minute sense of priority. Throughout the emergency response and disposal efforts, it is crucial to meticulously check for safety hazards in the vicinity of the disaster area, keep a close watch on weather patterns, and take strict precautions to prevent any further incidents and secondary disasters. Following this, Wang Xiaohui and Shi Xiaolin proceeded to the disaster-affected area in Ridi Village, located along National Highway 318 in Guzan Town. They meticulously examined the destruction caused by the flash flood and mudslide, including the collapses, inquired about the search and rescue efforts for the missing individuals, the relocation and resettlement of the affected people, and the restoration of road infrastructure, extended their appreciation and thanks to the various professional teams and local Party members, officials, and residents participating in the emergency rescue, and reminded everyone to take necessary protective measures while carrying out search and rescue operations. Wang Xiaohui stated that the flash flood and mudslide disaster hit with immense force, particularly devastating Ridi Village, and this tragedy led to multiple missing individuals and casualties, which is deeply distressing and heart-wrenching. The current priority is to focus on the search and rescue for the missing as the centerpiece of the rescue operation. It is crucial to coordinate and deploy various available resources effectively and to conduct the rescue efforts in a scientifically organized manner. At the transitional resettlement site located in Langgu Village, Guzan Town, they visited and consoled the affected people, expressed concern and inquired about the extent of the damage to their homes, the status of their basic living conditions, what other difficulties they were facing, and other situations. They urged the local Party committee, government, and pertinent departments to meticulously handle operations at the resettlement site, such as ensuring the provision of supplies and medical assistance and comforting the families of the deceased and missing, to effectively meet the basic livelihood requirements of the disaster-affected population. They additionally went to the Second People's Hospital of Kangding City to console and encourage the injured undergoing treatment, expressing their hope that everyone would concentrate on their recovery and strive to get well soon. They required the dispatch of provincial and prefecture experts for joint consultations and directed the local hospitals to ensure full care for each injured individual, guaranteeing they receive professional treatment and attentive nursing.
Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, and Shi Xiaolin, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee and Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, visit the temporary resettlement site located in Langgu Village, Guzan Town, Kangding City, to console and encourage the affected population, August 4, 2024.
At the "8.03" flash flood and mudslide disaster response and relief headquarters in Xiawasi Village, Guzan Town, Kangding City, Wang Xiaohui received updates on the emergency rescue and relief operations from various sources, praised the initial rescue efforts, and engaged in joint discussions and assessments with the team to make arrangements for the rescue and relief operations in the subsequent stage. He emphasized that the current top priority is to exert all-out efforts in search and rescue operations for the missing, aiming to minimize casualties. It is important to extend care and support to the disaster-affected people facing hardships, implement robust measures for the resettlement of the affected population, and commence the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation at an appropriate time following the disaster. It is imperative to expedite the repair of damaged infrastructure, with a priority on clearing the emergency route on National Highway 318, move faster to advance the repair of the collapsed bridge on the Ya'an-Kangding Expressway under the scientific assessment and assurance of safety, and systematically manage the traffic flow and diversion in the disaster-affected area to restore normal traffic order as soon as possible. It is essential to learn from such incidents and enhance the safety management of key infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and culverts during the rainy season, resolutely preventing the occurrence of similar disasters. It is crucial to disseminate information in a timely, accurate, and authoritative manner to effectively respond to public concerns.
Wang Xiaohui underscored that amidst the critical period from late July to early August for flood control, the province is facing a fresh bout of heavy rainfall, with some areas anticipated to encounter heavy to severe rainstorms, and the number of regions under geological disaster warnings has risen to 81 counties (county-level cities, districts) across 17 cities (prefectures) in the province. Particularly following a succession of heavy rains, the flood control and geological disaster prevention efforts in the province remain extremely demanding. Party committees and governments at all levels should take responsibility and devote themselves to their duties, remain vigilant and proactive in flood control and geological disaster prevention efforts, meticulously and effectively implement all measures, keep a firm hold on the initiative in our work, and ensure a decisive victory in this critical battle. We must consistently uphold the principle of putting the people and their lives first, enhance the accuracy of monitoring and early warning, and speed up emergency response. Particularly, we need to be highly vigilant about the risks associated with sudden heavy rainfall. In the event of any danger or warning signs, we must strictly follow the "three avoidances and three emergency evacuations" requirements, decisively and promptly evacuate those at risk near slopes and valley mouths, and ensure the evacuation is carried out as early, quickly, and comprehensively as possible, to fully protect the safety of the people.
Zuo Yongxiang, Vice Governor of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, and leading officials from relevant provincial departments attended.
