Rescue of pregnant woman in Zhejiang
Rescuers rushed to help a pregnant woman trapped in her car on the way to the hospital, when heavy floodwaters inundated a street in eastern China's Zhejiang Province on Wednesday. When a force of nature that knows no roads or status blocks the path of a life being born in pain, people face a choice: give up or fight. In Zhejiang Province, where Typhoon Dolphin left flooded streets and destroyed homes behind, the fate of a pregnant woman became a test not only for her family but for the entire emergency response system. Labour began six days before her due date, and water had already risen to a metre, cutting off the road to the hospital. In this chaos, where every minute could cost a life, rescuers in an inflatable boat fought through the flooded streets to bring hope. Their persistence and speed became a symbol that even in the midst of disaster, human life remains the highest value.
The alarm was raised early in the morning when the pregnant woman, with only six days left until her due date, began having contractions. Despite the difficult weather conditions, her family tried to take her to the hospital in Yuhuan County, which was the hardest hit by Typhoon Dolphin, which made landfall on Sunday and brought several days of heavy rain. With water reaching a metre deep on some sections of the road, the family's car could go no further, leaving them stranded and growing increasingly anxious. "In this situation, we couldn't do anything ourselves. We were stuck on the road for about an hour. We just couldn't get through," said the woman's husband, Wang Hai. Fortunately, a rescue team managed to reach the scene, navigating through the flooded streets, and using an inflatable boat safely transported the woman and her family. Video footage shows rescuers pulling the boat through flooded streets past abandoned cars, racing to get to the emergency room. After an unusual journey and an unexpected mode of transport, the woman arrived at the hospital shortly after 8:00. The medical team had been forewarned of her arrival and quickly began her examination. "She was very nervous when she arrived, saying she was having very strong contractions. We immediately calmed her down, then monitored the foetal heart rate and checked her vital signs – everything was fine," said Lin Suqin, a senior nurse in the obstetrics department. The woman is reported to be in stable condition and remains under observation.
Typhoon Dolphin, which struck eastern China's coast on Sunday, has been one of the most powerful storms this season, causing widespread flooding in Zhejiang Province. Yuhuan County was at the epicentre of the disaster: water levels on the streets reached critical levels, making many roads impassable. Authorities mobilised rescue services, and the rescue of the pregnant woman became one of the most vivid examples of effective emergency response. Medical facilities were pre‑prepared to receive casualties, and the coordinated efforts of rescuers and doctors helped avert tragedy. As of Thursday, water levels in the area were beginning to gradually recede, but the aftermath of the typhoon is still being dealt with.
As CCTV+ reports, this case has become yet another reminder that even in the toughest times, human solidarity and the professionalism of rescuers can work miracles, and a life born in the midst of a natural disaster remains the most precious gift to be cherished and protected.
