19 Billion Won Worth of Precious Metals Swept Away by Flood... Chaos as Residents Flock in China

Precious Metals Lost in Shanxi Jewelry Store Flood
"Failure to Return Will Be Punished"

In Shanxi Province, China, a sudden flood caused the loss of several dozen kilograms of precious metals from a jewelry store, leading to chaos as residents flocked to collect the valuables.

On August 1, Chinese media outlets such as Shandian News and Jimu News reported on the incident.

The incident occurred on June 25, when a torrential downpour overnight in Wuqixian, Shanxi Province, triggered a flood warning. The entrance of the jewelry store collapsed, and all the precious metals and safes stored in the display cases were swept away by the floodwaters.

Ye, the owner of the jewelry store, stated, "At the time, there were about 20 kilograms of precious metals in the store, including gold bracelets, necklaces, earrings, diamond rings, jade ornaments, and silver items, and almost all of them disappeared." He added, "The damage is estimated at approximately 10 million yuan (about 1.9 billion won) based on current market prices."

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Ye's family and employees searched through mud and debris for two days and managed to recover about 1 kilogram of precious metals. During this process, some residents voluntarily returned gold, but this was only a small portion. Ye's son, Xiaoye, said, "There were reports of people being seen picking up jewelry, but in reality, very few have actually returned anything."

However, as rumors spread, more local residents began to gather. Some were even seen searching the area with metal detectors.

Local authorities have also stepped in to assess the situation. The Wuqixian Market Supervision Administration and Public Security Bureau are investigating the circumstances of the incident, and the police have set up a cordon in front of the store to restrict access by residents.

Xiaoye warned, "We will offer a reward for returned items, but if anyone is found hiding items they picked up, we will take legal action." The local government also notified residents that "any precious metals found are considered lost property, and failure to return them may result in punishment."

Lawyer Mengjie from the Shandong Law Office emphasized, "Anyone who takes gold or jewelry washed away by the flood without permission can be prosecuted for theft under the criminal law."