Spirits rise as floods subside

Troops, volunteers, firms go all-out to assist Henan

People in the flood-ravaged province of Henan have suffered great inconvenience, economic losses and even tragedy in recent days, but they have been able to display courage and help others in a time of peril.

Video clips shot on smartphones in multiple cities in Henan show people rushing into flooded streets to rescue others－often strangers trapped or drowning in floodwater－placing their own lives at risk.

In one video, people form a human chain and use a rope to pull a drowning woman to safety. In another, dozens of pedestrians link their arms together to cautiously make their way across a flooded road while water laps at their chests.

One clip shows a man on his knees rescuing a mother and her son and daughter from a hole filling with water, while another shows children being moved to safety by a tractor. In another clip, young boys with umbrellas stand in a heavy downpour warning motorists away from a flooded area.

Many NGOs, charitable organizations and volunteer groups from within and outside Henan have sent their members to affected regions to help with disaster-relief operations and provide necessities for flood victims in need.

Other individuals have taken it upon themselves to help out. Liu Qingbo from Dongying, Shandong province, organized his friends to transport several speedboats and other relief material to Henan, according to media reports. "We drove overnight into the rain and have now finally arrived in Zhengzhou," Liu said in a video clip after traveling to Zhengzhou.