(Yicai Global) Aug. 3 -- A dam wall in Xun county is close to breaking point as record rainfall in central Henan province brings water levels to dangerous heights. In an effort to prevent disaster, local residents are using sandbags to try to reinforce the wall of the dam.

Unprecedented downpours have killed 302 people in Henan since July 16 and 50 are still missing, according to local government data. The disaster has caused direct economic losses of CNY114.3 billion (USD17.7 billion) so far.

As the waters lap the top of the dam wall, the whole county is coming together to strengthen it. Should the dam wall break, it will cause untold damage to Xun county’s 500 million residents.

Flood waters are two to three meters deep in the county. Here a main road stands completely submerged.

Everyone pitches in to pile sandbags at the dam wall.

A flag with the slogan “If the dam is here, the people are here” flies at the top of the dam to encourage the rescue effort.

Volunteers, government officials and armed police all join forces to prevent the dam waters from overflowing.

Hebi Coal Industry Group sends 140 staff to make a line to pass sandbags. They are using waterproof cloth to seal the inner side of the dam and continue to pile up sandbags to widening and strengthen the dam wall.

Editor: Kim Taylor