On the night of 17/5, rainfall in Miet Xuong commune, Yunnan province, surged to 256 mm. Hearing unusual sounds of wind and flowing water from the mountain behind, Tian Ruliang, 56, the village chief of Thuong Hong Nham, donned a raincoat and grabbed a flashlight to knock on every door.

By 3h on 18/5, an emergency alert was issued. Tian gathered young people, dividing them into groups to wake residents and call to verify the whereabouts of those not present.

While assisting residents with evacuation, a torrent of mud and debris from the mountain rushed down, sweeping him away. He clung tightly to a roadside tree to avoid being carried off. As the water receded, he struggled to his feet and continued searching for the six households yet to evacuate.

Covered in mud, village chief Tian Ruliang still evacuated residents of Thuong Hong Nham village before the flash flood on the morning of 18/5. *People's Daily*

After about half an hour, 60 people from 21 households in the highest-risk area reached safe shelter. Immediately after the last person departed, over 10,000 cubic meters of earth and rocks from the mountain collapsed, burying the entire area behind the village.

"The safety of the residents is my responsibility. Everyone's well-being is paramount," he stated.

Sharing his experience in flood prevention, Tian explained he always follows three steps: observing rainfall, listening for unusual sounds, and checking for mud movement. Early preparation and regular communication help residents evacuate proactively. He also maintains a list and pays special attention to vulnerable individuals in the village.

After the flood, despite his injuries, Tian remained at the scene, contacting various departments to distribute supplies and guiding residents in clearing mud and addressing environmental hazards.

Village chief Tian Ruliang has two daughters. The elder works in Ma Quan district, and the second is a university student. Both daughters were not home during the landslide, fortunately escaping harm.

After the flood, upon seeing photos of their mud-covered father circulating online and being dubbed the "Mud Man Village Chief" by media, his daughters called to inquire. However, Tian remained silent, concealing the danger of that life-or-death moment to spare them worry.

Thuong Hong Nham village, Miet Xuong commune, Ma Quan district, experienced a mudslide on the morning of 18/5. *Ma Quan District Media Center*

Experts evaluated the Thuong Hong Nham village evacuation as demonstrating the effectiveness of Yunnan province's 1262 mechanism. This system issues early warnings about rainfall 12, 6, and 2 hours before a disaster. Local authorities stated this mechanism helped evacuate 112,600 people early in 2025, preventing casualties in 114 flash floods.

Nevertheless, the final line of defense in mountainous regions still relies on grassroots officials like Tian, who are always prepared to confront danger.

Minh Phuong (According to Sina, Globaltimes, Xinhua)