An aerial photo of the breached dike, Huarong County, central China's Hunan Province, July 6, 2024. /CFP
China is deploying advanced technology to combat the Dongting Lake dike breach. Drones, satellites and helicopters were deployed on Saturday to gain control of the situation.
Over 1,400 personnel from the National Comprehensive Fire and Rescue Team have rushed to the forefront, according to state flood and emergency response coordinators. While primarily a firefighting force, the team is also trained and equipped for other emergencies, like floods.
The China National Engineering and Construction Corporation, also known as China Anneng, dispatched an additional 350 rescuers and 98 pieces of critical equipment.
To maintain the communication network, state rescue authorities deployed two compound-wing drones to Huarong County, the region most affected by the breach.
Anneng is also leveraging satellites to map the area and monitor the situation.
Additionally, an Mi-171 and an H125 helicopter have arrived at the scene and are preparing for tasks like aerial reconnaissance and transportation.
On the water, the "Changsha" emergency response ship is also helping with pile driving to reinforce the breached area and stone placement to mitigate further erosion.