Six Dead as Floods Engulf Southwest China, Storm Expected to Worsen Crisis

China’s towns and villages by a major river in Guangxi got half-submerged as floodwaters from a province upstream roared into the mountainous region, with the expected landfall of a tropical cyclone later on June 26 compounding disaster risk, reported Reuters.

According to Al Jazeera, the flood-waters in China have claimed six lives after over 80,000 people were left stranded this week.

The flooding that overwhelmed the counties of Rongjiang and Congjiang in Guizhou province on June 24 has spread downstream to other parts of southwest China, including rural settlements in Guangxi by the Liu river, which originates from Guizhou.

The Guangxi township of Meilin was the worst-hit, state media reported on June 26, with floodwaters crossing more than 4 metres (13 feet) above what was considered safe.

Southwestern China - from Guizhou and Guangxi to Chongqing, Yunnan and Sichuan – reportedly remained on alert for secondary disasters such as road collapses, landslides and hydro-dam overflows.

"Rural areas face significant challenges due to limited infrastructure and resources," Chen Xiaoguang, professor at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu told Reuters.

"Strengthening these systems in rural counties will be key to reducing the long-term impact of increasingly severe weather," Xiaoguang added.

Tropical Depression Hits Southern China

Reuters also reported that a tropical depression hit southern China on June 26, bringing rain and gales to a flood-hit region still recovering from the impact of Typhoon Wutip two weeks back.

State broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday that “exceptionally large floods” had swept through Guizhou’s Rongjiang county since Tuesday, reported Al Jazeera.

“Many low-lying areas in the county were flooded, and the infrastructure of some towns was seriously damaged, resulting in traffic obstruction, communications blackouts, and some people being trapped,” the broadcaster said.

“The water level in the county has now retreated below the warning level,” it added, saying “post-disaster recovery and reconstruction and investigation of trapped people are under way.”

According to Al Jazeera, state news agency Xinhua reported on June 25 that a football field in Rongjiang was “submerged under three metres (10ft) of water” and a resident said they were rescued from the third floor of their home.