Sichuan flash flood: Company blamed for falsifying missing persons data

The company involved in the flash flood disaster in Jinyang county, Sichuan province, in August, systematically falsified the number of people missing, according to an investigation report released Monday.

A mountain flood triggered by heavy rainfall in the upstream area destroyed a residence of construction workers belonging to Sichuan Road and Bridge (Group) Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Shudao Investment Group, on Aug 21, which led to six deaths and 46 missing.

The report, examined and approved by the executive meeting of the Sichuan provincial government, identified that the unlawful occupation of river channels for residential purposes during flood season, as well as the failure of those in charge of the construction site to comply with evacuation orders and timely transfer of workers to a safe place, were important factors contributing to the high number of casualties and missing persons.

The report said people from Shudao Investment Group and its affiliated enterprises collaborated to fabricate and conceal the number of missing persons, and some officials in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture and Jinyang county tacitly condoned the company's misconduct in reporting false information.

The local Party committees, government and relevant departments were found to have engaged in dereliction of duty in disaster prevention and response, daily flood prevention management, and project construction supervision, said the report.

It said the investigation team has handed over the clues and materials relevant to the issues found in the performance of duties by local Party committees, government and relevant departments to the Sichuan Commission for Discipline Inspection and Sichuan Supervisory Commission for accountability investigation.

On the same day, a notice released by the WeChat official account of the Sichuan Commission for Discipline Inspection disclosed the accountability measures taken for the mountain flood disaster in Jingyang.

Disciplinary inspection and supervision authorities in Sichuan have taken serious steps, in accordance with rules, regulations, and laws, against 127 Communist Party members suspected of disciplinary violations, violating laws, dereliction of duty and irresponsibility, it said.

Public security authorities in Sichuan have filed a case and taken coercive measures against 12 company employees suspected of false reporting of safety accidents and negligently causing a serious accident. The case is currently in the court trial process.