A sudden flash flood in Beichuan, Sichuan, killed 6 people! How can we save ourselves when a flash flood strikes?

From 20:00 on July 15 to 8:00 on July 16, heavy rainfall occurred in the western part of Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County, Sichuan Province, causing 22,300 people in 13 townships to suffer varying degrees. The road infrastructure in some townships was severely damaged, and electricity and communications were interrupted on a large scale.

In the early morning of July 16, affected by heavy rainfall in Qingpian Township and Baishi Township upstream, the flood peaks of Qingpian River and Qixinggou converged and overlapped in Baishi Township. The water level rose sharply. The flood mixed with floating objects, mud, sand and gravel raised the riverbed, rushed out of the river channel, and rushed into the town. The houses along the street were flooded, some houses were destroyed, and transportation, electricity and communications were interrupted.

As of now, continuous heavy rainfall in Beichuan has triggered mountain torrents that have caused six deaths and 12 people missing. Local rescue work is proceeding in an orderly manner.

A total of 1,323 people have been relocated and resettled, among which 480 disaster-affected people in Baishi Township have all been properly resettled.

How can we save ourselves when flash floods strike?

Flash floods are floods that rise and fall suddenly in mountain streams. Because the ground and riverbed slopes in mountainous areas are relatively steep, runoff and confluence are relatively fast after rainfall, forming a rapidly rising and falling flood peak. Flash floods are characterized by strong suddenness, concentrated water volume, and strong destructive power.

When a flash flood arrives, people who do not have time to evacuate should quickly move to nearby hillsides, highlands, buildings, flood shelters, etc., or immediately climb to roofs, high floors of buildings, big trees, high walls and other high places for temporary shelter.

If the flood continues to rise, make full use of the prepared life-saving equipment to escape, or quickly find some door panels, tables and chairs, wooden beds, large pieces of foam plastic and other floating materials to make a raft to escape.

If you are surrounded by floods, try to contact the local government and flood control command department as soon as possible, report your location and danger, and actively seek rescue.

Never try to swim to escape and do not climb live electric poles or towers.

Comprehensive sources: Xinhua News Agency, CCTV News, CCTV Finance, etc.