BEIJING, Aug. 20 (silubaba) -- There are those among us who make a conscious decision to step into the forefront when urgency strikes, risking their lives to save others.
This summer, when parts of north and northeast China experienced record-breaking rains and fatal flooding, members of the Communist Party of China, officials, and volunteers rushed to defend lives and property, and spearheaded work once the flood waters retreated.
Among those selfless individuals were Xiong Li and Luo Xudong. Seconds of video images recorded the moments before their last mission.
In one of the short videos, captured on the morning of July 31, Xiong, an official of a village in Mentougou District, Beijing, paces the hallway of the village office building, anxiously looking at the rain outside. The 36-year-old was steadfast in supporting the evacuation mission that day, "I'm an official of Baocun Village. I must go!" These were her last words.
In another video, Luo, vice mayor of Shulan City in the northeastern province of Jilin, is seen running down the stairs while checking his cellphone for updates on the local floods. On Aug. 3, after finding out that over 100 people were marooned on a forest farm roof, he rushed out to help. Not long after, he was swept away by a raging torrent. His last words live on in a voice message left to his colleagues, "All the people must be evacuated. Don't take any chances!"
Xiong Li and Luo Xudong were among those posthumously awarded First Class Merit in recognition of the greatest sacrifice in China's fight against floods: their lives.
There were also people who stood up in the face of emergencies.
"I'm a police officer, and also a Party member!" shouted Tang Huaqing, an associate professor with the China People's Police University, who was on Train K1178. The train was one of three stranded by floods in Mentougou District from July 30, with its passengers running out of water and food.
Tang's words immediately eased the panicking passengers, some of whom were inspired and went on to join him in helping to evacuate the train.
Soon after, a seven-people strong temporary Party branch was established to coordinate rescue efforts.
On the night of July 31, a train carrying 6,000 shares of bread, rice porridge and other supplies for the trapped passengers was also stuck midway due to wrecked routes. After a nearly four-hour trek, a group of Party members among the passengers carried the supplies to the K1178 train.
Three days later, all passengers on the trains were safely transferred.
"We can never leave a single person behind," Wei Jiangtao said in a husky voice behind bloodshot eyes after a 72-hour evacuation.
Wei is a village Party chief in the hard-hit city of Zhuozhou in Hebei Province. The village of Shawo was made an isolated island as three intersecting rivers flooded.
"The water rose so fast that many houses were submerged; their residents stranded." Wei and other village officials worked around the clock for three days from Aug. 1 to relocate the residents.
However, dozens of senior residents were unable to move and remained in the village. Wei shuttled back and forth, bringing them food and other supplies by rescue boats every day.
"Although exhausted, it's good to see everyone safe," said Wei.
In the aftermath of the flooding, rebuilding is already well underway in many regions.
In the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, Sun Peng, head of a local unit of the Harbin branch of the State Grid Corporation of China, waged into Fengnan Village with his team, despite the risks of being washed away by flood waters and secondary disasters. Using dinghies and excavators, they forged through the rising waters and replaced every damaged utility pole they encountered along the way.
"Reconstruction needs electricity, and there are two more villages to go," said Sun while leaving for work again.
Like Sun, officials and volunteers have joined the post-disaster efforts, draining away water from roads and farms, clearing the mud, and carrying out operations so that lives can return to normal.
Within China, the deeds of these altruistic individuals, alongside countless others, serve as inspiration for its populace. They illuminate the fact that even during the most challenging periods, there exist those who stand prepared to lend a helping hand. ■
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