Text: Science Explorer
Editor|Popular Science Explorer
On July 5, 2024, Huarong County, Yueyang City, Hunan Province, ushered in a rare rainstorm.
The rapid rise in the lake's water level has made the local flood control department nervous. No one expected that this heavy rain would become the fuse for the collapse of the Tuanzhou embankment.
The beginning of things seems ordinary. At around 4 p.m., the levee patrol discovered an anomaly during a routine inspection: the road surface on the inside of the levee had a slight subsidence. This detail is small, but it is a precursor to disaster. The staff immediately carried out further investigation, and soon found the pipe surge phenomenon at the 19+800 station.
Pipe surges, which may not sound too scary, are a red flag in water conservancy projects. It is like an "underground river" in a dike, where water seeps out of the lower part of the levee or in the foundation, carrying away sediment and creating a cavity. If not dealt with in a timely manner, the consequences can be unimaginable.
After receiving the report, the flood control department immediately mobilized personnel and materials to rush to the scene. They used the conventional plugging method: cofferdam with sandbags and backfilling with clay. However, the turbulent water seems to have an idea of its own, and the plugging effect is not ideal.
Over time, things took a turn for the worse. There was more and more water seeping into the levee, and the ground began to collapse significantly. The staff stepped up the blockade while reporting to their superiors. However, the power of nature is far greater than people think.
At 5:48 p.m., disaster finally struck. The levee collapsed under the tremendous pressure of the water, and the flood water poured in instantly. The initial breach was about 10 meters wide, but the impact of the flood was unusually strong. In just over an hour, the breach widened to a staggering 100 meters wide!
When the news spread, the whole Hunan Province was shaken. The Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government immediately activated the emergency plan. The secretary of the provincial party committee quickly issued instructions, emphasizing that the safety of people's lives is of paramount importance. The governor of the province even personally commanded and put forward the emergency strategy of "one to ensure five speeds".
The scene quickly turned into a huge "battlefield". Large machines were constantly dumping stones into the breach, trying to stop the raging torrent. Rescuers struggled through the rushing waters, racing against time to reinforce the embankment. At the same time, the work of transferring the masses is also in full swing.
The disaster has also sparked a battle between technology and nature. The drone hovers in the air, providing real-time footage to the command. Hydrological experts use advanced models to analyze flood trends and provide scientific basis for emergency rescue. Underwater robots were even used to assist in underwater reinforcement operations.
The entire Huarong County and even the surrounding areas were mobilized. Rescue teams arrived from all over the world, bringing advanced rescue equipment. Local enterprises have contributed, some provide supplies, and some organize employees to participate in the rescue. Ordinary people have also organized themselves to bring food and drinking water to frontline workers.
After a night of hard work, in the early morning of July 6, there was good news: all 5,000 people in the vicinity had been safely evacuated. This undoubtedly gave everyone a shot in the arm. However, the rescue work is far from over. The battle to close the breach continues, and the challenges are even greater.
The forecast of the meteorological department is even more worrying: there will still be heavy rainfall in the region in the coming days. This means that the flood control situation will be even more severe. Rescuers had to race against time and the weather.
The flood is merciless, and people are merciful. In this contest with nature, we have seen China's speed and strength, and we have also seen the spirit of unity and unity of the people of Chinese.
This battle against flood relief continues, let us look forward to victory together!