As Beijing Flooded, A Bulldozer to the Rescue

Over the past month, heavy rains have battered the Chinese capital of Beijing and the nearby countryside. The rains have flooded villages. They've also threatened livelihoods. But stories of heroism have risen from those deadly waters. One tale is that of bulldozer operator Wang Tianyu.

During the worst of the rains in late July, Beijing saw 147 straight hours of storms. They dumped 40% of the region’s yearly average precipitation on communities. During the downpour, Wang Tianyu received a call from a friend. His family was trapped by the meter-high floodwaters in his village. As the owner of a construction company, Wang had a number of tools on hand. He opted for his bulldozer. 

Rolling the sturdy vehicle through the surging currents, Wang made it to his friend’s village. He used the raised arm and broad bucket of the bulldozer to rescue people from rooftops. He then drove them to higher ground. He didn't only rescue his friend’s family. Wang rescued over 100 people trapped by the floodwaters. He sometimes carried ten people at a time to safety. When the village was cleared, Wang bulldozed his way back in again. This time, he carried firefighters through the village to look for dangerous areas and downed power lines. 

Wang worked nonstop for 12 hours. At one point, he even used his dozer's bucket to plug a gap through which floodwaters were pouring. He bought precious time for rescue workers to escort caravans of survivors to safety. He told the South China Morning Post that he was scared that he might be washed away. But he pressed on.

In thanks, local fire chief Zang Hui called Wang a “bulldozer hero.” 

Thought Question: What’s something you’re good at or something you have that you could use to help someone else in a tough situation?

Photo of a bulldozer from Unsplash courtesy of Zac Edmonds.