Record Floods Hit Southwest China, Killing 6 and Displacing 80,000+

Severe floods are wreaking havoc across southwest China, leading to multiple fatalities and the forced evacuation of tens of thousands of residents. At least six people have died, and over 80,000 others have been displaced from their homes as “exceptionally large floods” overwhelm towns and villages.

The hardest-hit area appears to be Rongjiang county in China’s Guizhou province. Starting on Tuesday, this mountainous region experienced what state media and meteorologists have described as “extremely severe flooding” and even the “largest flood on record” for the local Duliu River. Water levels in one section of the Liu River were recorded surging at an astonishing 11,800 cubic meters per second – over 80 times its average speed – rising a dramatic 11 meters above normal. This unprecedented inundation prompted authorities to activate the highest-level emergency flood response in the province.

Widespread Impact and Dramatic Scenes

The scale of the flooding in Rongjiang and other affected areas is devastating. Low-lying areas have been completely submerged, causing extensive damage to infrastructure. Roads were cut off, communication networks failed, and residents found themselves trapped by the rapidly rising waters.

Vivid accounts illustrate the severity:
A football field in Rongjiang county’s Cun Chao stadium was reportedly submerged under three meters (nearly 10 feet) of water.
One resident recounted being rescued from the third floor of their home as floodwaters climbed.

In Guangxi, towns and villages along the Liu River were seen lying half-submerged as torrents poured in from upstream.

The disaster spread downstream from Guizhou into parts of the neighboring Guangxi region, impacting rural settlements particularly vulnerable to the deluge. Intense rainfall triggered landslides, further disrupting communication and access. Flood alerts were issued for at least 20 rivers across Guangxi as rescue efforts intensified.

Dramatic rescues highlighted the danger, including a lorry driver in Guizhou whose vehicle was left dangling precariously from the edge of a bridge damaged by landslides. Firefighters also successfully rescued a young girl trapped in a drain for seven hours. Emergency services, often battling deep, muddy water, used rafts to evacuate the elderly and infirm, while some desperate residents resorted to swimming with life rings or using inflatable pools to move belongings and even children to safety. Large pumps were deployed to clear water from submerged areas like subways and shopping malls.

Context: China’s Summer of Extremes

These severe floods in southwest China are occurring within the broader context of a summer marked by extreme weather across the country. While the southwest battles deluges, northern regions, including the capital Beijing, have been grappling with intense heat. Authorities in Beijing recently issued the second-highest heat warning on one of the city’s hottest days of the year so far.

Just the previous week, tens of thousands of people were evacuated in Hunan province, which borders Guizhou, also due to heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Wutip. The arrival of a tropical depression making landfall on Thursday is expected to bring further disruptive rain, particularly over densely populated areas, potentially hindering the ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts.

The increasingly volatile weather patterns seen this summer, shifting rapidly from heatwaves to torrential rains and floods, are fueling concern about the growing impact of climate change across China. Authorities nationwide are bracing for what is anticipated to be a “long and turbulent summer.”

As floodwaters begin to recede in some areas, including Rongjiang where levels dropped below the warning mark on Thursday, the focus is shifting to post-disaster recovery, reconstruction, and the crucial search for any remaining trapped individuals. However, experts warn that rural areas, often lacking robust infrastructure and resources, face significant challenges in managing and recovering from such devastating flood damage.