China Floods: Guangxi, Guizhou Submerged as Cyclone Looms

BEIJING/HONG KONG – Catastrophic floods have engulfed southwest China, submerging towns and villages across Guangxi and Guizhou provinces after torrential rains triggered a "once-in-50-years" deluge. With a tropical cyclone set to hit Guangxi, authorities warn of heightened risks of landslides, dam breaches, and renewed flooding.

Guizhou Epicenter: Cities of Rongjiang and Congjiang were first hit Tuesday. Rongjiang, at three rivers’ confluence, saw the Liu River surge to 11,800 m³/sec—80 times its normal flow. Six deaths confirmed.

Downstream Crisis: Floodwaters rushed into Guangxi, drowning the township of Meilin under 4 meters (13 ft) of water—far exceeding safety limits.

Human Toll: A Rongjiang cake shop owner lost his sole income source: "My family just escaped poverty. This shop was everything." Displaced residents crowd local hotels alongside rescue teams.

Infrastructure & Climate Challenges

Rural Vulnerability: Limited monitoring stations and resources hinder disaster response. "Rural areas face significant challenges," states Chen Xiaoguang (Southwestern University), urging infrastructure upgrades.

Tie to Climate Change: Experts link intensified floods to global warming. Chen warns: "Extreme weather is more frequent and unpredictable... Investment in forecasting and resilient infrastructure is essential."

Aging Defenses: Urban centers like Rongjiang (a county-level city) lack resources to handle unprecedented floods, while remote regions struggle with forecasting gaps.

Tropical Cyclone Threat

Even as floodwaters recede, a tropical depression (landfall in Hainan/Guangdong Thursday) threatens:

New Deluges: Heavy rain could disrupt cleanup efforts in Guangxi/Guizhou and trigger fresh flooding.

Secondary Disasters: Southwest China remains on alert for landslides, road collapses, and dam overflows.

Emergency teams work to restore power, water, and telecoms amid silt-clogged streets. Overstretched local water bureaus actively monitor weather, reinforce embankments, and drill emergency protocols.

*Authorities urge high-alert as cyclone approaches; 2.4M+ affected across 5 provinces.

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