A dramatic video captures the moment an 8-year-old girl was pulled to safety from a sewer pipe in southern China, a remarkable survival story unfolding amidst severe flooding that has devastated the region.
The daring rescue took place on June 24 in China’s southern province of Guizhou. Just the day before, on June 23, the young girl was swept into a drainage ditch by fast-moving floodwaters while trying to recover a lost shoe on her way home from school.
Trapped for over seven hours deep within the dark, cold sewage pipe – reportedly some 32 feet down – the girl displayed astonishing resilience. Authorities later stated she survived the ordeal by holding onto a horizontal bar inside the pipe. When rescuers finally reached her, she was soaking wet but, incredibly, showed no obvious serious injuries. Firefighters involved in the rescue commended her “amazing calmness and perseverance” under terrifying circumstances.
Severe Flooding Grips Southern China
The girl’s dramatic rescue highlights the widespread and critical situation faced by several southern Chinese provinces, including Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hubei, which have been battered by extensive heavy rainfall since June 17.
This severe weather has triggered what authorities in Guizhou describe as a “severe flood not seen in 50 years.” The impact has been devastating, resulting in at least six confirmed deaths and significant damage to infrastructure, including blocked roads and damaged buildings, leaving many residents stranded. Across the affected areas, over 20 rivers have seen water levels surge past warning thresholds.
Mass Evacuations and Government Response
In response to the escalating crisis, mass evacuations have been carried out. In Guizhou alone, over 80,000 residents were moved to safety earlier in the week, including nearly 49,000 in Rongjiang County and approximately 32,000 in Congjiang County.
China’s government has initiated substantial relief efforts. On June 25, 100 million yuan was allocated specifically for disaster relief in Guizhou, earmarked for restoring vital public services and infrastructure such as roads, flood control systems, hospitals, and schools. Separately, a larger sum of 300 million yuan was allocated earlier in the week for disaster relief across the most severely affected areas in southern China.
As surface runoff begins to recede in some areas, efforts are starting to clear silt and restore essential services like power, telecommunications, and water. However, the danger is far from over. On June 26, authorities launched a Level III emergency response as forecasts predicted further heavy rain, rainstorms, and potentially torrential rain for the region. Officials have warned residents to remain vigilant against the risk of secondary disasters, including landslides, road collapses, and hydro-dam overflows, particularly as a tropical depression was expected to bring more rain to affected areas.
