Man resues 150 in Chongqing

The weather has been the talk of the nation recently, with relentless rain pounding large swathes of the country. The Yangtze River has been one of the hardest hit. The Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydropower project that straddles the Yangtze River has finally seen some relief.

The highest flood peak of the year is subsiding and the dam is now re-open to shipping. More than 700 anchored vessels will be able to pass through in the coming week. But, the rains have taken a toll on nearby Chongqing Municipality.

Here in a hospital in the Jiangjin district of Chongqing, Xia Wei has some visitors he doesn’t know. They were all saved by the man who is still too weak to talk. It was Monday night. Torrential rain battered the area. Homes were flooded. Residents could only stay at home, waiting to be rescued. Firefighters were soon in place. But they ran into problems. Local resident Xia Wei volunteered to help.

Xia Wei said, "The firefighters were not familiar with the neighbourhood. They all had to crawl in those buildings. The boats couldn’t get in."

He borrowed a boat and rowed into the neighbourhood alone. From various buildings, he pulled out more than 150 people. Working through the night, Xia Wei was exhausted.

Xia Wei said, "I almost couldn’t make it on the last trip. I told myself to hang on and I rowed back. I tried to step out of the boat, but I was just too tired. I passed out before I could even stand up.
His community was moved by his good will and perseverance. The neighbourhood is celebrating its local hero. Xia Wei has now left hospital and is recuperating at home.   (CCTV)