"Even in Heavy Rain, Exams Must Go On"... Chinese Students Spotted Heading to School on Tubes

Landslides and Road Flooding Cause Severe Disasters in Some Areas
No Reports Yet of Casualties or Specific Disaster Details
Local Rescue Teams Mobilized to Transport Exam Candidates

As heavy rain poured down on parts of Hunan Province, China, a video showing an exam candidate heading to school on a tube has gone viral on social networking services (SNS).

On June 20, Guangming Daily reported, "Since the evening of the 18th, heavy rain has caused severe disasters in some areas of Hunan Province, including landslides, road flooding, bridge damage, and destruction of houses and crops." The report added that there have been no reports yet of casualties or specific details about the disaster situation.

Heavy rain in Hunan Province, China. Official Weibo of the Hunan Provincial People's Government.

According to the report, the average rainfall in Shangzhi County, Hunan Province, reached 187.1 mm the previous day. Shangzhi County raised its emergency response level for heavy rain to Level 1 and took swift action to evacuate residents trapped by the flooding.

The previous day was also the second day of the Zhongkao (high school entrance exam) in Shangzhi County. To transport exam candidates, local officials and firefighters were mobilized, preparing kayaks and tubes for the flooded streets and alleys. As a result, a total of 245 people, including 30 students?12 of whom were high school entrance exam candidates?and residents, were able to evacuate.

Students heading to school on tubes in heavy rain. Weibo.

A student arrived at school riding a tube during the heavy rain. Weibo.

In particular, a video of an exam candidate heading to school on a tube while holding a bag containing clothes and books spread across Chinese social networking services (SNS) and became a hot topic. Wen, who identified herself as the student's aunt, said in a media interview, "My nephew had to leave for the exam in the morning, but the water was too deep to get out. We called the rescue team, but as the exam time approached, my nephew did not wait for the rescue team and swam to school on his own."

A government official stated in an interview, "The local government has established emergency measures to ensure that exam candidates can take their exams without any problems." If any exam candidate is unable to reach the test site due to the heavy rain and fails the exam, arrangements will be made for them to take an additional test.