After a dam collapsed in northern China, unleashing about 141 million cubic feet of water and decimating five villages downstream, local residents began to blame local officials for not acting earlier, and took matters into their own hands to exact justice.
The Dahe Dam in Changshan Township of Huadian City, Jilin Province, collapsed on July 28, but was confirmed in Chinese state media only on Aug. 7.
The Huadian municipal government reported that some 64,000 people had to be evacuated throughout its 87 villages, and that 16 deaths had occurred and 32 people have been reported missing, as of Aug. 3.
Survivors in Changshan Township however recently disclosed through the Internet that at least 200 people in Huadian City were casualties, and that residents concur that human error was behind the delay of the dam discharge of excessive water at the appropriate time, causing the disaster.
The local government’s poor job in disaster relief prompted the survivors to protest by carrying the bodies of their loved ones, which they had retrieved from the water themselves, to the Changshan Township government office. On Aug. 2, some villagers even attacked township officials.
The Dahe Dam in Changshan Township of Huadian City, Jilin Province, collapsed on July 28, but was confirmed in Chinese state media only on Aug. 7.
The Huadian municipal government reported that some 64,000 people had to be evacuated throughout its 87 villages, and that 16 deaths had occurred and 32 people have been reported missing, as of Aug. 3.
Survivors in Changshan Township however recently disclosed through the Internet that at least 200 people in Huadian City were casualties, and that residents concur that human error was behind the delay of the dam discharge of excessive water at the appropriate time, causing the disaster.
The local government’s poor job in disaster relief prompted the survivors to protest by carrying the bodies of their loved ones, which they had retrieved from the water themselves, to the Changshan Township government office. On Aug. 2, some villagers even attacked township officials.
Mr. Shi, a volunteer at a disaster relief relay station, told Sound of Hope Radio Network that more than 200 people in Huadian City had died, many homes were damaged, and that the homeless victims are in desperate need of support.
Mr. Shen, also a Changshan township resident, told The Epoch Times, “The Dahe Dam failed to discharge water when it was supposed to. The excessive amount of water caused by heavy rainfall broke the dam. High water rushed down and swept away people and houses. The five villages in the path of the flood—some of which had more than 100 households—were damaged severely. Many people were washed away by the water and drowned.”
Mr. Shen said he witnessed the villagers carrying the dead bodies, to appeal to the township government, but the officials ignored them.
The villagers dashed into the office and found the officials eating watermelon. “People were drowned after the dam burst, but the government officials told them it was none of their business, which enraged the villagers,” he said.
Mr. Shen, also a Changshan township resident, told The Epoch Times, “The Dahe Dam failed to discharge water when it was supposed to. The excessive amount of water caused by heavy rainfall broke the dam. High water rushed down and swept away people and houses. The five villages in the path of the flood—some of which had more than 100 households—were damaged severely. Many people were washed away by the water and drowned.”
Mr. Shen said he witnessed the villagers carrying the dead bodies, to appeal to the township government, but the officials ignored them.
The villagers dashed into the office and found the officials eating watermelon. “People were drowned after the dam burst, but the government officials told them it was none of their business, which enraged the villagers,” he said.
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Huadian resident Ms. Kang also told the Epoch Times that the disaster could have been prevented, if a flood discharge had been done earlier.
A Jilin Province resident Tongqing (pen-name) visited several villages after the disaster. He told The Epoch Times what he had seen. Dahe Village was only 2 kms (1.2 miles) from the dam and therefore suffered the worst damage. The village used to have 198 households, but now only about 20 still remain.
He also confirmed that the local people were very angry, because they believe the flood was caused by human factors, and no warnings had been given.
Locals told Tongqing that the Dahe Dam was under contract with a private company, who, in violation of the rules, had started storing water before the flood season came, in order to generate electric power and breed fishes. Due to negligence, the company’s on-duty employees did not pay attention to the water level, which had continued to rise. Therefore, when the flood water level was at its peak, the steel gate was engaged but failed to lift, due to excessive water pressure, which caused the dam to eventually collapse.
Tongqing said the victims had no food, water or shelter after the disaster, which so infuriated the villagers that they smashed the township government office and beat up the officials.
A Jilin Province resident Tongqing (pen-name) visited several villages after the disaster. He told The Epoch Times what he had seen. Dahe Village was only 2 kms (1.2 miles) from the dam and therefore suffered the worst damage. The village used to have 198 households, but now only about 20 still remain.
He also confirmed that the local people were very angry, because they believe the flood was caused by human factors, and no warnings had been given.
Locals told Tongqing that the Dahe Dam was under contract with a private company, who, in violation of the rules, had started storing water before the flood season came, in order to generate electric power and breed fishes. Due to negligence, the company’s on-duty employees did not pay attention to the water level, which had continued to rise. Therefore, when the flood water level was at its peak, the steel gate was engaged but failed to lift, due to excessive water pressure, which caused the dam to eventually collapse.
Tongqing said the victims had no food, water or shelter after the disaster, which so infuriated the villagers that they smashed the township government office and beat up the officials.
An Epoch Times reporter called the Huadian Municipal Party Committee and the municipal government office to inquire about the consequences of Changshan Township villagers beating up officials. The reporter was told that all media interviews needed to be cleared by the local propaganda department.
Two reporters from Southern Weekly and Oriental Outlook Weekly respectively were in Huadian City interviewing flood victims on Aug. 6. Police followed them and held them in custody for two hours. They were ordered to destroy all photo images and recordings, Southern Weekly reported on Aug. 6.
Under apparent pressure from residents and media, the Huadian municipal government announced that due to poor performance in disaster relief efforts, three Huadian City officials were removed from office. State media reported on Aug. 7 that the Huadian City Discipline-Inspection Commissions, the Public Security Bureau and some hydraulic engineers had joined forces to investigate the cause of the Dahe Dam collapse.
Two reporters from Southern Weekly and Oriental Outlook Weekly respectively were in Huadian City interviewing flood victims on Aug. 6. Police followed them and held them in custody for two hours. They were ordered to destroy all photo images and recordings, Southern Weekly reported on Aug. 6.
Under apparent pressure from residents and media, the Huadian municipal government announced that due to poor performance in disaster relief efforts, three Huadian City officials were removed from office. State media reported on Aug. 7 that the Huadian City Discipline-Inspection Commissions, the Public Security Bureau and some hydraulic engineers had joined forces to investigate the cause of the Dahe Dam collapse.
