Makeshift bridge saves more than 300 people

More than 300 people were rescued from flood-stranded villages in Beijing's Huairou district after emergency workers constructed a makeshift bridge to reach them, according to local media reports.

Torrential rains triggered severe flooding across the region, cutting off roads, power, water and internet access in remote areas. Among the hardest hit was the area between Nianziwan and Piandaozi villages, where the connecting bridge had been washed away.

Li Chencai, deputy head of the Yangsong Fire Station in Huairou, said that rescue teams from Huairou and Haidian districts arrived on foot at around 5 pm on Sunday, following a strenuous two-hour trek.

"By the time we got there, the bridge was gone, and supplies were running low on the other side," Li told the Beijing News. "There was no power, no signal, no way in. We had to shout across the river to communicate with the trapped residents."

At 6 am on Monday, as water levels receded, locals helped transport logs and ropes to the riverbank. Using these materials, rescue workers first constructed a rope bridge to reach the opposite side, then assembled a floating bridge to allow supplies and people to cross, according to the report.

"It took us about four hours to build the bridge," said Li. "Once it was in place, we immediately sent over bottled water and bread. The residents are now gathered at the village committee building, where they can use a satellite phone to contact the outside world and confirm their safety."

Over 300 people were subsequently evacuated from Nianziwan to a designated relief site, including more than 200 local villagers and over 100 tourists.