The Caribbean country of Dominica was thrashed by Hurricane Maria on September 18th, affecting over 70-thousand residents, including 400 Chinese nationals. The Chinese government dispatched two chartered planes to bring these citizens back home. CGTN's Hu Nan brings us the story of their arrival from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport on October 1st.

 

Home safe and sound. After a 22 hour flight, 381 Chinese nationals in Dominica were now back in China, after being temporarily relocated to Antigua and Barbuda.

 

GE JIANPING PASSENGER "We took shelter in a church. It was flooded at midnight by the heavy rainfall. In the early morning, we found out nearly all the roofs were gone. Three quarters of our camp was destroyed, only a couple of houses could be seen. I was so relieved when I learned that the Chinese government dispatched airplanes to bring us home."

 

Hurricane Maria hit Dominica in September 18th, leaving much of the country in ruins.

 

CHEN SICHANG, SITE MANAGER CHINA CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION CORP "We walked over six hours to get to the Chinese embassy for help. Dominica was left mostly inhabitable after the hurricane. Most of its 70,000 population were evacuated to other countries. We were transferred to Antigua and Barbuda, but the latter could only hold 5,000 evacuees. The situation was still tough there."

 

The evacuation was mainly carried out by the Ministry of Commerce and China Eastern Airlines.

 

ZHOU LIUJUN, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION DIRECTOR CHINESE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE "We've carried out this transfer within 48 hours, including the negotiations with 19 countries alongside the flight route to get permission for landing or passing-over. The coaches are ready outside the airport to bring them back to their homes tonight. After a period of good rest, we'll go back to Dominica and help the locals to rebuild their country."

 

All 381 passengers were home safe by October 1st. That day also marked China's National Day, and their safe and swift transfer home might have very well been the best present for the country. Hu Nan, CGTN, Shanghai.