Heavy rain has brought large-scale damage to provinces across southwest China, killing more than ten people, blocking roads and flooding entire villages.
The rain came down fast and hard, the destruction, indiscriminate. In Guizhou Province, there were 2 deaths with 200,000 affected. 30-meter trees were uprooted with falling rocks blocking the roads. Villagers trapped by the flood, seeking shelter on high ground.
"There's too much water. We were afraid. We have children in our household, so we climbed the building as high as we could. We didn't dare close our eyes, and just sat there for the whole night."
In Sichuan Province, gushing streams collapsed stone bridges, flooding village houses. Constant rain loosening rocks on the mountains, with falling rocks destroying dwellings. Entire villages cut from the outside world without power or supplies. Soldiers trudged the muddy mountain roads to deliver daily necessities. A trip to the hardest-hit villages can take up to several hours.
"What they need most is food. Electricity is cut, so villagers can't mill the rice. Vegetables have also been destroyed. So they are counting on us for sustenance."
In neighboring Chongqing municipality, water levels have risen by 10 meters. Authorities have cordoned off river shores to prevent any accident. Flooding has killed livestock. One local pig farmer said there are only a few dozen left of his 700 pigs.
"This is one of my pens. I had 30 pigs in this pen. Now there's only one left. The one over there, only four left in that one."
Local authorities are doing what they can to compensate for the losses. But starting afresh will take some time.