Two villagers awarded for landslide alerting
2026-07-20 19:07:25
By Yan Wanqin.
Two villagers in Yichang each received 4,000 yuan (US$590) and a Level IV award for geological disaster avoidance on July 18 for issuing timely alerts that saved their families from landslides.
Liu Changcheng from Yiling District and Liu Zuowu from Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County reported early signs of slope failure during heavy rainfall in May, prompting the evacuation of their families.
On May 19, after days of continuous rain, Liu Changcheng spotted pebbles rolling down the wet slope beside his house while conducting a routine inspection. Recalling disaster prevention training organized by local officials, he immediately alerted the village authorities.
At 5:45 pm, a 150‑cubic‑meter landslide struck the western side of his home, severely damaging walls on both floors and destroying furniture. He and his family member had been evacuated just minutes earlier. The house was later repaired at a cost of 220,000 yuan, and they returned home on July 9.
Two villagers in Yichang each received 4,000 yuan (US$590) and a Level IV award for geological disaster avoidance on July 18 for issuing timely alerts that saved their families from landslides.
Liu Changcheng from Yiling District and Liu Zuowu from Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County reported early signs of slope failure during heavy rainfall in May, prompting the evacuation of their families.
On May 19, after days of continuous rain, Liu Changcheng spotted pebbles rolling down the wet slope beside his house while conducting a routine inspection. Recalling disaster prevention training organized by local officials, he immediately alerted the village authorities.
At 5:45 pm, a 150‑cubic‑meter landslide struck the western side of his home, severely damaging walls on both floors and destroying furniture. He and his family member had been evacuated just minutes earlier. The house was later repaired at a cost of 220,000 yuan, and they returned home on July 9.
Liu Changcheng receives the award. Photo from Yichang Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Urban Rural Development.
On May 17, Liu Zuowu heard unusual rumbling sounds from the slope behind his house in Wufeng County during torrential rain. Drawing on knowledge gained from previous disaster drills, he recognized the risk of a slope collapse and reported it to the village committee. Hours later, a 1,000-cubic-meter slope collapse occurred, damaging two rooms. Fortunately, Liu and his family member had already been relocated.
Liu Zuowu receives the award. Photo from Yichang Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources and Urban Rural Development.Both villagers credited their quick reactions to extensive disaster drills and door-to-door guidance from local officials, who taught residents to recognize early warning signs such as falling rocks, ground cracks, unusual sounds from slopes, and seeping water.
The awards were granted under Hubei Province and Yichang City regulations for successful geological disaster avoidance.
Gong Changjun, Wang Fei and Chen Fei contributed to this story.
