To further enhance the emergency response capabilities for sudden environmental incidents in Guangdong and Hunan provinces, a joint emergency drill for sudden environmental incidents in the Wujiang (Wushui) River Basin was held on October 29, 2024 in Sanxi Town, Lechang City.

Jiang Wenhong, Deputy Mayor of Shaoguan City, Luo Shiyan, Member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Zhong Jin, Second level Inspector of the Hunan Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Liu Weilong, Director of the Law Enforcement and Supervision Department of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Liu Huayi, Deputy Secretary of the Lechang Municipal Party Committee and Mayor, Zhang Jie, Deputy Mayor, and other leaders attended the drill and provided on-site observation and guidance.

The simulation scenario of this exercise was on Censhui Bridge along X066 in Yizhang County, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province. A rear end collision occurred between a tanker truck carrying 30 tons of diesel and a tanker truck transporting 20 tons of copper containing waste liquid, resulting in some diesel and copper containing waste liquid leaking into the Wushui River and flowing into the Wujiang River, causing a sudden environmental incident across Hunan and Guangdong provinces.

The entire exercise was conducted in a combination of VCR playback and on-site practice. After the accident occurred during the drill, governments at all levels in Hunan and Guangdong provinces quickly activated emergency plans for sudden environmental incidents. Functional departments at all levels immediately responded and quickly organized emergency monitoring teams, emergency support teams, medical rescue teams, pollution disposal teams, and other teams to carry out disposal work. Through the collaborative efforts of various levels and departments in the two provinces, and drawing on the experience of "exchanging space for time", emergency measures such as intercepting and cutting off sources, water conservancy scheduling, and using drone swarms to carry out pesticide operations were adopted to successfully control pollutants in local river sections. The water quality and drinking water safety of the lower reaches of the Wujiang River were effectively guaranteed, and the sudden environmental incident was properly handled.

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