The one-way journey was about 30 to 40 minutes, and there wasn't a minute without stunning scenes. Boats streamed from the opposite direction. They carried rescued residents who wore orange life jackets identical to mine. The only difference was that theirs had been wet, because the jackets had been used many times to rescue residents.

Threading our way through emerging fog, we arrived at the Zhongye Future City residential community. But we couldn't see the buildings' first floors at all, only some residents standing on second-floor balconies.

They shouted out and waved their hands. "We are here! Please help us!"

The rescuers drove the boat to a balcony where there was a toddler, huddled in her mother's arms.

"Don't rush. We will take you to the boat one by one. Elders, women and babies first!"