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China deploys self-propelled pontoon barges to evacuate flood-hit Guangxi
The barges were used after inflatable and assault boats proved slow, with rescues accelerating once the equipment arrived.
South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region used foldable, self-propelled pontoon barges as a key rescue tool during severe flooding, according to reporting from SCMP Economy.
SCMP Economy said more than 6,000 staff and students were cut off at the Guangxi Logistics Vocational and Technical College in Guigang when floodwaters rose to nearly 5 metres, and earlier rescues relied mainly on inflatable and assault boats that moved slowly.
SCMP Economy reported that China Anneng Construction Group, a state-owned emergency rescue force, deployed three heavy-duty barges from last Wednesday night into Thursday, citing state news agency Xinhua.
The outlet added that by midday on Thursday, after the barges arrived, all the students and teachers had reached dry ground, according to state broadcaster CCTV.