China sends in troops to fortify flood defences and evacuate residents as north reels from devastating floods

Thousands of troops sent to help relief efforts in northeastern provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang

Officials were among those killed by the flooding as central government earmarks additional 350 million yuan (US$49 million) to help flood-hit areas

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Authorities in the city of Shulan, Jilin province say their next task is to repair roads, bridges, electricity infrastructure and telecommunications stations damaged by heavy rain and floods. Photo: Xinhua via AP

Published: 2:00pm, 6 Aug 2023Updated: 9:21pm, 6 Aug 2023

China has deployed thousands of military and paramilitary personnel to fortify flood defences, evacuate residents and help mop up as the country’s north reels from devastating floods.

State news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday that forces from the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police were putting sandbags along rivers, repairing roads and distributing supplies in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces.

More than 2,050 troops and more than 5,000 PAP personnel helped to evacuate around 3,000 civilians, the report said.

State media also underscored the role of the Communist Party in directing relief operations, saying rescuers and government departments were acting on President Xi Jinping’s “important instructions”.

The efforts came as rescuers recovered the bodies of four municipal officials swept away by floodwaters during emergency operations in Jilin province.

Luo Xudong, the deputy mayor of the city of Shulan, and three members of his team were killed on their way to assess conditions in the area on Friday, according to state news agency Xinhua.