Due to the influence of the peripheral circulation of Typhoon “Gemi” (translated as “Kemi” in Taiwan), heavy rainfalls have been reported in many parts of Hunan. The water level of the Juan River has risen, leading to a breach in the levee of Xiangtan County, Xiangtan City, Hunan Province on the evening of the 28th and had expanded to 77 meters by 3:58 am on the 29th. Some villagers mentioned that they had to evacuate overnight, and there was not enough time to move their belongings.
On the night of the 28th, around 8 pm, a breach occurred at the Sixin embankment in Guojiaqiao, Yisuhexiang County, Xiangtan City, Hunan Province. The affected areas like Sixin Village are located within the embankment, with water levels exceeding 2 meters deep.
Local villagers told the “New Jingbao” that water started entering around 8 pm that night, and within an hour or so, water had reached the second floor of their houses. They mentioned that their belongings couldn’t be moved in time, and safety was their priority.
Zhou Tian, a villager (pseudonym), had a supermarket near the embankment. That night, upon hearing village officials shouting “embankment collapse,” she and her husband quickly grabbed cigarettes from the supermarket and ran upstairs. They made multiple trips up and down, managing to save over a hundred cigarettes. Soon, water flooded the supermarket, and they were forced to hide on the second floor, waiting for daylight. They were finally rescued around 7 am on the 29th.
According to reports, most local residents have sought refuge with relatives, while the rest are being sheltered at Hekou Middle School in Xiangtan County.
Some netizens inquired about the situation at the breach site and compared it to the severity in Wahjong County. A user replied, mentioning significant losses with many elderly affected, and numerous vehicles submerged, resulting in losses for almost every household.
Many netizens expressed concern over Hunan facing its second levee breach this year, marking an unprecedented millennium flood. They criticized the lack of attention to tributaries and highlighted the negligence towards flood prevention.
Others empathized with the residents of Xiangtan County, calling the situation pitiful and questioning the wisdom of inhabiting such areas prone to disasters. They suggested that proper investigations be conducted to determine accountability for potential substandard construction.
Additional reports emerged of a breach at the Mido Dam in Hukou Town, Chaling County, with the collapse of embankments over fifty to sixty meters, submerging the entire village.
Residents urged the authorities to take notice of the repeated levee breaches in Hunan and emphasized the importance of investigating the cause to prevent future tragedies. They raised questions about whether the disasters were purely natural or stemmed from human negligence, advocating for thorough inspections to hold those responsible for any substandard workmanship accountable.