The incident has resulted in 1 death and 2 people missing. The affected road section is closed to traffic.
Recklessly breaking through a blocked road, car and all, only to be swallowed by floodwaters
Tourism safety sounds another alarm. On September 23, a group of out-of-town tourists drove into Section 303 of the Provincial Highway from Yingxiu to Wolong, which was closed due to a landslide. While attempting to cross the river, three people were swept away; one died, and two others are missing. As of yesterday, the two missing people had still not been found. Staff at the Wolong Nature Reserve reminded travelers that those heading to Mount Siguniang and other destinations can take alternative routes and should not risk entering prohibited areas.
On September 23, three off-road vehicles, carrying a group of out-of-town tourists, illegally entered the closed Section 303 of the Provincial Highway. When the convoy reached Gengda Township in Wolong and prepared to ford the river, one of the cars suddenly stalled and got stuck in the middle of the river. Another off-road vehicle driver got out to help, but the rapidly rising waters quickly swept him away, and the off-road vehicle also rolled downstream with the current.
The accident has resulted in 1 death and 2 people missing. Yesterday, a reporter from Huaxi Metropolis Daily learned from the Wolong Nature Reserve that the swept-away off-road vehicle had been salvaged, and search and rescue efforts were still ongoing.
Entering a prohibited area
Vehicle gets stuck in river, 3 people swept away
The more than 10 tourists came from places such as Tianjin and Beijing and were planning to travel from Chengdu through Mount Siguniang to Tibet. That day, the three off-road vehicles intended to enter Section 303 of the Provincial Highway from Yingxiu to head toward Wolong, but the Yingxiu-Wolong section was closed due to a landslide caused by a mudslide. When the three vehicles reached a river within Gengda Township, the off-road vehicle with license plate Qing AH01**—which was in the middle of the convoy—was about to ford the river when it suddenly got stuck in the water.
The driver of the first off-road vehicle in the convoy, Yin Mou, got out with a rope to help. At that moment, the river water suddenly rose, quickly submerging the tires of the vehicle stuck in the river, and a wave swept away Yin Mou, who was trying to help. Of the five passengers inside the off-road vehicle, two struggled to climb to the riverbank and were pulled to safety.
Emergency search and rescue
Two people are still missing
The river water quickly rose, and the off-road vehicle began to roll downstream with the current. In less than two minutes, driver Luo Mou and tourist Ms. Wu were swept away by the river. The remaining passenger, Ms. Xu from Tianjin, quickly climbed onto the roof of the vehicle and called for help from the shore, after which she was rescued.
After receiving the report, the Wolong Nature Reserve immediately dispatched a search and rescue team. At around 3 p.m. on September 23, rescuers found the body of Yin Mou about 1 kilometer downstream in the river.
“Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing, and driver Luo Mou and tourist Ms. Wu have not yet been found,” said staff at the Wolong Nature Reserve yesterday. According to the reserve’s investigation, drivers Luo Mou and Yin Mou were clearly aware that starting from the end of August, all social vehicles were prohibited from entering the Gengda-Wolong section. But they took a shortcut in hopes of avoiding detours, acting on a sense of luck, which ultimately led to this accident. Huaxi Metropolis Daily reporter Xiang Ling reminded:
Road closed between Gengda and Yingxiu; take detours to Mount Siguniang
As early as August 21, the Wolong Nature Reserve issued a notice: due to mudslides triggered by heavy rain, the road on Section 303 of the Provincial Highway between Gengda and Yingxiu was interrupted, and all social vehicles were prohibited from using this section. Currently in the flood season, power stations may release water at any time, and hiking across Section 303 from Gengda to Yingxiu is prohibited.
Signs reading “Power station flood discharge area, no vehicle passage” can also be seen along the way. Local workers reminded drivers not to attempt to pass through the interrupted road ahead. To reach Mount Siguniang or Danba, consider alternate routes such as “Chengya Expressway–Lushan–Baoxing–Jiajinshan.”