A valiant official in China has been dubbed “Mud Buddha” after a photograph emerged of him covered in sludge while he was averting disaster by evacuating residents before a catastrophic landslide.From the evening of May 17 to the early morning of May 18, a downpour hit Shanghongyan Village in Maguan county, southwestern Yunnan province.At its height, the level of precipitation reached 256mm, the People’s Daily reported.Tian Ruliang, the village director, left home three times after 10pm on May 17 to check the rainfall situation.The above image shows the extent of the damage caused to the village by the floods. Photo: QQ.comAt 3am on May 18, the water in a local river rose to dangerous levels.