customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

summary

updatedDate

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Iris Jiang

A tourist from China has told how she managed to escape a deadly flood in Kenya by spending 12 hours up a tree, losing all her luggage before emerging from the raging water wearing just a T-shirt and underwear.
The woman’s will to survive has wowed mainland social media.
Liu Jiatu, 28, who lives in Thailand, was caught in the flood at the famous Masai Mara tourist destination on May 1.
Heavier than usual rainfall had pounded Eastern Africa due to the combined effects of El Niño and the long rainy season from March to May 2024.
Liu was staying at the luxury Basecamp Masai Mara tented hotel which hosted former US President Barack Obama in 2006.
She was wakened by bed-shaking thunder at 1.15 am and found herself knee-deep in water.

The tent’s main entrance was locked and there was no time to find the key. Chaos ensued with floating furniture in the darkness, Liu decided to use brute force to break out of the tent.
“Carrying two phones in my mouth, I tried to tear a hole in the tent fabric. My survival instinct gave me unprecedented strength and I succeeded,” Liu said.
Once outside, she climbed up a tree and saw her tent being ripped apart by a torrent.
Liu’s driver was unable to help her and she spent a cold night up the tree with a local who did not speak English.
As dawn broke, she found herself surrounded by rotting leaves and an array of insects, her feet bruised and scratched. Below her, the water swirled menacingly.
To keep her spirits up, she watched videos of her pet dog on her phone.
“To stay awake, I started pricking my finger with the pin from my earring. Afraid of dehydration and knowing that no supplies would reach me, I bit my mouth, thinking I could drink my blood to survive if needed,” Liu wrote on Weibo.
At 7 am, a helicopter team arrived but the dense trees made a rescue impossible.
At noon, the local youth she was stuck up the tree with used ropes to move her to safety. At 12.30 pm Liu finally set foot on dry land.
Her will to survive has impressed mainland social media.
“Feels like you could write a book, your survival skills are strong!” one online observer said.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, your good fortune lies ahead!” another added.

It is not Liu’s first brush with extreme danger.
In July 2019, she suffered a sudden subarachnoid haemorrhage while at the gym and survived despite being in critical condition.
A medical examination showed she only suffered minor infections in her wounds.
“I have cheated death twice in five years, I am now terrifyingly strong!” Liu wrote on Weibo.
She has demanded an apology and compensation from the hotel.
A total of 257 people were killed and 293,000 others displaced across 31 of Kenya’s 47 counties as a result of the floods.


Who is Dao Lang? Comeback concert viewed by 53 million people online, moves many to tears

Mother in China claims son suffers skin pigmentation loss after being slapped by teacher

China ‘mistress counsellor’ restores broken marriages by persuading lovers to depart

2 strangers lock noisy China toddler in plane toilet to discipline her, igniting heated debate

Trending in China

China tourist survives killer Kenya floods by clinging to tree in her underwear overnight

A tourist from China has shown remarkable resilience to survive deadly floods which swept away her tented accommodation in Kenya, by spending the night up a tree in her underwear. Photo: SCMP composite/AFP/Weibo


Kenya is a popular destination for Chinese tourists, but recent floods left many shocked. Photo: Shutterstock

The floods killed hundreds of people and left tens of thousands more injured and displaced. Photo: AP

China woman, 40, streaks through college campus in revenge against lover, 18, who ‘took her money’

A middle-aged woman in China has taken an extreme form of revenge against her teenage lover, by streaking through the college campus on which he studies. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo


The half-nude woman stormed onto the college campus in a bid to embarrass her ex-lover. Photo: X

An array of images of the couple appeared online prior to their split and the woman’s nude stunt. Photo: Weibo

Who is Dong Mingzhu? One of China’s richest women, famous for domineering attitude to work

The Post profiles Dong Mingzhu, one of China’s richest, and most controversial, women who is known for her domineering style of leadership and strong views about work culture. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo

Dong fought her way to the top of the corporate tree despite being a single mother. Photo: 163.com

The businesswoman has attracted support and criticism on social media for her views. Photo: Sohu

Thrifty China student goes from Shanghai to Singapore by bus in 29 days for only US$400

A university student from China who travelled from Shanghai to Singapore by bus in 29 days, spending just US$400, has surprised many people and divided online opinion. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/big5.news.cn

Jiang says ground travel means meeting more people and having a richer experience. Photo: Baidu

Some people online criticised Jiang for wasting time and spending too much on fares. Photo: Baidu

China ‘child growth companions’ in demand, help with homework, plan fun activities, earn up to US$8,300 a month

In China, the services of “child growth companions” are highly sought after – they provide assistance with homework, organise engaging activities, and can earn as much as US$8,300 a month. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

These companions assist children in leading fulfilling lives, cultivating positive study routines, and instilling the correct values. Shutterstock Images

Candidates must have a background in preschool, a tertiary education degree, proficiency in English, and additional skills such as musical proficiency. Photo: Shutterstock

Why do Japanese begin removing body hair from childhood? Excessive hair growth could result in bullying, shaming

Body hair is a source of shame in Japan and as a result even children are having treatments to rid themselves of the stuff. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

A boy undergoes a hair removal procedure. Experts say such treatments when young can be damaging. Photo: Weixin

Underarm hair is also a no-no in parts of Asia and is often covered up by a hand if it shows. Photo: Netflix

News

People & Culture

Environment

Woman rips her way out of ravaged tent carrying two phones in mouth, spends night up tree, watches videos of her pet dog to keep spirits up


A brave tourist from China has survived huge floods in Kenya by using brute force to rip her way out of an inundated tent and climbing up a tree in her underwear as a torrent swept her accommodation away.


Extreme weather

Natural disasters