From May 10 to 11, continuous rain appeared in Yajiang County, Ganzi Zang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China, which gave rise to 27 debris flows.

Amid the service for this weather process, Ganzi Zang Autonomous Prefecture Meteorological Department (hereinafter referred to as Ganzi Meteorological Department) has made timely forecasts, accurate released early warnings, and adopted the "call and response" mechanism, enabling 768 residents, enterprise workers and tourists in the relevant areas to be safely transferred. A safe haven operation has been successfully completed, with those concerned safe and sound.

Head of the Ganzi Meteorological Department stated that the cumulative precipitation was large which triggered the debris flow, and thanks to precautionary measures, the early warning was just in time.

At 16:30 on May 10, five hours before the first debris flow disaster occurred, Ganzi Meteorological Observatory issued a regional forecast of heavy precipitation weather trend, which clearly said that from the evening of May 10 to 12, there would be a marked rainy weather process in the prefecture.

At 17:10, the meteorological departments of Ganzi at prefectural and county level activated emergency responses, issued warning of rainstorm, geological disaster meteorological risk and short-range weather forecast of heavy precipitation, and advised the government and relevant departments to brace for heavy precipitation and take timely measures to avoid debris flow in susceptible areas.

After the warning was issued, Yajing Meteorological Observatory immediately adopted "call and response" mechanism through multiple channels.

After receiving the meteorological warning and "call and response", the government of Yajiang County immediately organized cadres and the people to filter out hidden dangers in the front line and promptly organized the transfer of the threatened ones.

Ultimately, a total of 172 people from 9 hotels and 29 shops in Hekou Town were safely evacuated.

On the early morning of May 11, emergency management personnel checked the road prone to geological disaster. Credits to Sichuan Provincial Meteorological Service

Thanks to the rapid early warning, residents were transferred in time and no casualties were reported.　

It is informed Ganzi Meteorological Depratment has previously formulated a special program for the meteorological service in the flood season in the wildfire area of Yajiang, and continued to deliver progressive meteorological services to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of geological disasters.

By May 11, Ganzi Meteorological Depratment has issued 119 special forecasts and real-time weather condition information.　

Editor: LIU Shuqiao