In a stark reminder of climate extremes, southwest China has been battered by disastrous floods triggered by relentless monsoon rains and swelling rivers. Floodwaters have surged in Guizhou Province since Tuesday, forcing over 80,000 to flee and claiming at least six lives, state media and local officials say.
/*Flood Impact and Immediate Response*/
By Thursday at 11 a.m., six people were dead in Rongjiang and Congjiang counties, and thousands were moved out of homes flooded. The Liu River, bloating at catastrophic levels, with a high of 11,800 m³/s, over 80 times the usual level, burst dykes, submerging roads, fields, and rural infrastructure. Over 300 roads were shut, communication was cut off, and dozens were stranded before rescue teams, employing boats and drones, cleared villages and set up temporary shelters.
/*Weather Context and Warning Signs*/
These floods follow Typhoon Wutip (mid-June), which displaced around 70,000 and sent deadly landslides through Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi. A tropical depression hit Hainan and moved into Guangdong Thursday morning, bringing the threat of additional heavy rain to already saturated ground. High-level warnings have been issued for the central and southern provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, and Guangdong by the National Meteorological Centre.
/*Human Casualty and Rescue Operations*/
/*Rescue operations:*/ Rescue workers have pulled citizens to safety in boats and lifted off roofs, with families fleeing to third-story safety. Xinhua cited a football field submerged under three meters of water. Boat rescues are typical, and basic commodities such as water and instant food are distributed by volunteers and the local government. /*Death Toll:*/ Six fatalities were mentioned in official reports, but victims in rural areas tell of destroyed infrastructure and missing people.
/*Infrastructure Damage and Secondary Hazards*/
Floods have severely impacted bridges, roads, utilities, and communication infrastructure across Guizhou and downstream in Guangxi. In Meilin Township, waters surged over four metres higher than safe levels, inducing transport gridlock. Landslides and dam overflows are feared by officials, who have initiated mass evacuations in rural areas with weak flood defenses.
/*Longer-Term Outlook and Climate Connection*/
This flooding incident is part of a frightening trend. The heavy rain season started early this year, with heat waves in the north. China's US$2.8 trillion agricultural industry is under growing danger as infrastructure is stretched to the limit to keep pace. Climate change is reinforcing monsoon incidents and overwhelming aging flood defenses, specialists warn. Beijing has unleashed 200 million yuan (US$28 million) in emergency relief, with recovery teams prioritizing cleaning, electricity resumption, and disease prevention