Flooding subsides in ancient Chinese town of Fenghuang

World Today

Flooding subsides in ancient Chinese town of Fenghuang

Flooding has subsided in the ancient Chinese town of Fenghuang, which had been submerged since Monday when severe storms started battering the region. Tens of thousands of people have been affected. Xia Ruixue reports more.

Flooding subsides in ancient Chinese town of Fenghuang

Flooding has subsided in the ancient Chinese town of Fenghuang, which had been submerged since Monday when severe storms started battering the region. Tens of thousands of people have been affected. Xia Ruixue reports more.

Flooding has finally subsided, leaving behind mud and waste. In Fenghuang county, 120,000 people were forced to leave their homes this Tuesday. Many tourists were evacuated to temporary settlements.

On Thursday afternoon, some local residents came back to check their businesses— including bars, restaurants and hotels in the ancient town. It will likely take quite some time to clean up the mess left by the storm.

For 300 years, the Tuo river ran quietly through the town. The river, together with the mountain and architectural ruins, have long made the town an attractive destination. No one ever expected for the river to be a source of destruction.

Heavy rains this Monday triggered flooding within an hour of the start of the storm. The water soon flowed into the traditional stilt houses, fully submerging many of them.

Fortunately, the county’s water supply has not been affected, and power had been completely restored by Friday. However, tourist spots are far from reopening.