Roads Become Rivers: Nearly 4 Million Chinese Evacuated Or Displaced From Flooding

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An aerial photo shows the extent of flooding in Guzhen Town of Lu’an City in eastern China’s Anhui province on July 20.

Tang Yang/Xinhua via AP

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Zeng Hailin stands in front of his dilapidated home. During flash flooding in his Anhui village last month, he evacuated his 80-year-old mother by floating her out in a plastic washbasin.

Emily Feng/NPR

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Tang, a life-long resident of Hekou village, said flooding that reached above her ankles only started occurring in the last decade.

Amy Cheng/NPR

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Tang Anfeng, a Hekou native, explains how the local government releases excessive rainwater behind dams to relieve pressure. «The water floods our village, and we suffer, she said.

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Chao Lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the country, sits squarely in Hefei, the capital city of Anhui province. Brigades of local workers and volunteers fortified the rim of the lake with sand bags last month and put up warning signs on the perimeter because of this season’s dangerously high water levels.

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Hekou villagers enjoying a moment of reprieve from farm work right before a thunderstorm.

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Farmer Ma Youxi herds his water buffaloes into the water. During the flooding last month, Ma says the dry land on which he stood was completely submerged.

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Farmer Ma Youxi herds his water buffaloes into the water. During the flooding last month, Ma says the dry land on which he stood was completely submerged.

Emily Feng/NPR

Farmer Ma Youxi recounts the sudden flood in July that enveloped his home in Hekou village as he takes his water buffaloes out for a swim. «We only know when the dams release water when the water enters our homes. There is no heads up, he complains.

Ma barely rescued his sheep. He points to his herd of water buffalo — luckily, they float naturally.

Amy Cheng contributed research from Anhui.