At least 8,115 evacuated after severe flooding hits Yunnan's Mohan town

At least 8,115 people have been evacuated from Mohan town in southwest China's Yunnan Province after torrential rain triggered severe flooding and placed a reservoir at risk of overflowing.

The flooding struck Mohan, in Mengla County of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, following heavy to torrential rain from 28 to 29 August.

The local government activated a major flood-control emergency response on 29 August as water levels rose and the Salt Pond Reservoir in Molong Village faced an overtopping risk.

More than 1,500 personnel from the People's Liberation Army, People's Armed Police, fire and rescue services, police and emergency agencies have been deployed to the area to carry out rescue and evacuation operations.

Reservoir emergency triggers evacuations

The Salt Pond Reservoir became a major focus of the emergency after authorities detected an overtopping risk.

Emergency crews opened a new flood-discharge channel to increase the reservoir's capacity to release water. Officials said the existing spillway remained clear, allowing additional space to be created ahead of further rainfall.

Authorities have increased inspections of the reservoir and are closely monitoring rainfall and water levels. Rescue teams have also been conducting door-to-door checks in villages below the reservoir, urging residents who had returned home to leave again.

The local government said rainfall was expected to continue and that monitoring of the reservoir and surrounding waterways would be intensified.

Officials have also strengthened an emergency warning system and evacuation arrangements to ensure residents in vulnerable areas can be moved quickly if conditions deteriorate.

Children among those evacuated

Firefighters have been involved in evacuating residents from flooded communities, including children.

Images released by Xinhua showed firefighters carrying children to temporary shelters in Molong Village on 30 August. Floodwater damaged homes and farmland in the village, while residents were moved to designated evacuation centres.

At one temporary shelter, evacuated residents were provided with meals and basic supplies. One image showed a nine-year-old girl playing with her pet dog at a shelter after being evacuated.

Local authorities said the entire population affected by the emergency had been safely relocated and arrangements had been made for food, accommodation and medical services.

Emergency supplies sent to shelters

Authorities have rapidly moved relief supplies to evacuation centres.

The provincial Department of Grain and Strategic Reserves said it had sent 20,500 emergency relief items, including 500 tents, 3,000 sets of clothing, 3,000 coats, 3,000 quilts, 3,000 folding beds, 3,000 mattresses and 3,000 sets of bedding.

The local authorities separately reported that 400 tents, 4,000 quilts, 1,500 cases of instant noodles and 1,100 boxes of drinking water had been delivered to centralised shelters.

Six ambulances were also stationed at evacuation sites to provide medical treatment and health monitoring.

At the main evacuation centre at the Mohan Port immigration hall, more than 1,400 people had been accommodated by the morning of 30 August, according to Kunming Information Port, citing Kunming Daily. Blankets, mattresses and pillows had been prepared for evacuees.

Schools postpone start of new term

The flooding has also disrupted education in Mohan.

Local authorities said primary and secondary schools in the affected area would postpone the start of the new school term because of the weather conditions and ongoing emergency response.

Authorities continue to monitor rainfall and water levels while repairing transport, electricity and telecommunications infrastructure damaged by the flooding.

The emergency response remains focused on keeping residents away from high-risk areas, monitoring the reservoir and preparing for further rainfall. Officials have instructed rescue teams to continue evacuation operations to ensure that no households or residents in danger are left behind.