Torrential rains have caused severe flooding in southern regions of China, with water levels exceeding warning marks on 27 rivers and thousands of residents evacuated to safety, the Ministry of Water Resources said Sunday.
The worst-hit areas include Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan, where four small rivers surpassed the maximum water level for flood control by up to 2.51 meters. Yunnan's Mengtong River experienced its worst flooding since 1979.
In Sandu Shui Autonomous County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, emergency teams worked through waist-deep waters to rescue residents, including a mother and her newborn baby.
As of 19:00 Saturday, Sandu County had eliminated 36 risk points and evacuated 1,287 people.
Nearby in Qiandongnan Prefecture, firefighters waded through rushing waters to evacuate villagers and salvage household items.
Armed police were deployed in Hechi City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where floodwaters reached up to six meters in some areas, submerging streets and farmland. Rescuers using rubber boats evacuated residents from inundated villages threatened by landslides.
On Friday, a dramatic helicopter rescue occurred in Zhangjiajie City, central China's Hunan Province, when two villagers became stranded on a river islet after sudden water surges.
After arriving at the scene, the rescuers carefully evaluated the conditions on site. After five hours of rescue efforts, one villager was pulled to safety using rescue cords, while the other was airlifted to a safe area by a sightseeing helicopter requisitioned for emergency use.
Authorities maintain flood control responses across six provincial level regions, with three ministry teams coordinating relief efforts. Meteorologists predict more rain in the coming week, prompting officials to warn residents to avoid waterways during the ongoing rainy season.
Heavy rains trigger severe flooding across south China, forcing thousands to evacuate
