Flood rescue in Mentougou

Seven people stranded by flash flooding in Mentougou district caused after water was discharged from the Guanting Reservoir were rescued Sunday by firefighters, news portal qianlong.com reports. Before being winched to safety, the group was marooned on an island in a river for five hours.

"Water rose rapidly within two minutes. We were 20 meters from the river bank and the water was flowing very quickly. Two elderly people, the eldest 78 years old, were with us," recalled a rescued woman, surnamed Gu, who said the group had been picnicking on the island.

Firefighters first tried paddling out to those stranded in a kayak, but resorted to the cable and harness because of strong rapids.