Spirit, unity overcome threat of floodwaters(3)

Lessons from the past

Jia Mengjun, 58 and her husband Yu Minghu, 60, both villagers from nearby Qiannan county came to see the dike and embankment on Monday afternoon because they were worried.

In 1996, the couple were among the frontline volunteers patrolling and defending the embankment. After failed attempts that year to stop a breach, their house collapsed and their belongings were washed away.

"Seeing how well organized the rescue efforts were this time and how much effort the Party and government have made to protect us, we feel safe," they said.

Peng Juxiang, 63, another villager from Qiannan, also went to the embankment.

After the dike was breached in 1996, she lived on the embankment for more than three months waiting for the water to recede so her family could start rebuilding their home.

"When I heard the dike had breached, I wanted to cry," she said, recalling the painful memories and hardship she went through 28 years ago.

"The rescuers were so young and worked so hard. The weather was too hot, I felt sorry for them," she said.

According to Yueyang city's records, on July 19, 1996, a dike breach occurred at Tuanzhou, leaving 14 people dead and causing direct economic losses of 550 million yuan ($75.6 million).

On July 27, 1996, the embankment was breached again, killing 17 people in Qiannan and resulting in economic losses of 2.36 billion yuan.