Relentless heavy rainfall and surging upstream inflows have triggered devastating floods in two counties of southwest China's Guizhou Province, forcing mass evacuations.
As of 23:00 Tuesday, 51,000 residents were evacuated in Rongjiang County, while 32,000 were relocated in Congjiang County by 14:30 Tuesday. The flood control emergency response has been elevated to Level I, the highest, in both areas.
Rongjiang, known for Cun Chao-a rural football league uniting over 100 village teams and captivating fans nationwide-experienced heavy rainstorms from 20:00 Monday. By 14:00 Tuesday, water levels at the Duliu River had surpassed warning levels by 6.68 meters.
Rescue teams comprising soldiers, firefighters, and volunteers have deployed boats and equipment to aid ongoing rescue operations in the affected counties.
In Congjiang County, the Duliu River's water level dropped by about six meters as of 11:00 Wednesday, following a flood peak that passed through at around 19:00 Tuesday.
By 16:00 Tuesday, the provincial emergency department had dispatched disaster relief supplies, including 30,000 bottles of drinking water and 10,000 bowls of instant noodles, to the affected counties using high-speed rail and road transport.
Meanwhile, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced Wednesday an allocation of 100 million yuan (about 13.95 million USD) to support disaster relief in flood-stricken Guizhou Province. The funds will focus on restoring key infrastructure and public services, including roads, flood control systems, hospitals, and schools, according to the NDRC.
At the same time, the national commission for disaster prevention, reduction, and relief launched a Level-IV emergency response on Tuesday, part of China's four-tier system for flood control, where Level I represents the most severe response.
Severe flooding in Guizhou Province forces over 80,000 to evacuate
The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Saturday evening and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on the waterway.
In a statement carried by its official news outlet Sepah News, the IGRC said that the move came after the United States violated its commitments under the two-week ceasefire, which took effect on April 8, and failed to end its naval blockade against Iranian vessels and ports.
The IRGC Navy called on all vessels and their owners to follow official updates via its channel and VHF Channel 16, the international maritime distress, safety, and calling frequency. The statements by U.S. President Donald Trump hold no credibility in the strait and the Gulf, it added.
The IRGC warned that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the Gulf or the Gulf of Oman, and any approach to the strait would be deemed "cooperation with the enemy" and targeted accordingly.
Tehran's political leadership echoed the IRGC's firm position. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's control, revealing that during previous negotiations, Iran had firmly countered U.S. attempts to carry out minesweeping operations, which Tehran viewed as a ceasefire violation.
He said the situation had come close to conflict, but the U.S. had eventually backed off.
Calling the U.S. maritime blockade "reckless and ignorant," Ghalibaf warned that passage through the strait would certainly be restricted if Washington does not lift the blockade.
Underpinning these public announcements, Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Saturday affirmed the country's resolve to exercise control and supervision over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended and lasting peace is achieved in the region.
For its part, the United States pressed ahead with its own military measures.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Saturday that the U.S. military is imposing a maritime blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports and nearby coastal areas. Since the blockade began on April 13, 23 ships have complied with U.S. directions to turn around.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military is preparing in the coming days to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing U.S. officials.
The move will enable the U.S. to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support Tehran, the report said.
Iran's IRGC says Strait of Hormuz blocked, demands end to US naval blockade
