Floodwaters reach the toes of the 71-meter statue of Buddha Tuesday in Leshan, Southwest China’s Sichuan province. Photo: An Yuan/China News Service

The platform under the Buddha’s feet was flooded on Aug. 12. Photo: Liu Zhongjun/China News Service

Local authorities said the river’s water hasn’t reached the stone statue, which is more than 1,300 years old, since 1949.

Tourists flock to the statue in 2019.

Heavy rains lashed the city of Leshan, flooding its urban area on Tuesday.

Shopkeepers tally their losses in a flood-struck town.

A firefighter tries rescuing a dog from the floodwaters Monday in Pengshan. Photo: Liu Zhongjun/China News Service