Local authorities in Longlin Various Nationalities Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, have intensified rescue and flood control efforts as heavy downpours continue to wreak havoc, triggering severe flooding across the region.
Kechang Township, located in the northwest of Baise City, is renowned for its unique karst landforms. Its low-lying basins, towering mountains, and underground rivers have made the area particularly vulnerable to flooding. Among the hardest-hit areas is Dongwang Village in Lianhe Village, where rising upstream water levels have caused severe flooding. The water level in some parts has reached nearly 15 meters, the equivalent of a five-story building, posing significant risks to residents and infrastructure.
Rescue teams have deployed boats and other equipment to support ongoing operations, and evacuate affected residents to safety. Authorities have also implemented contingency plans for combating geological disasters, ensuring the safe evacuation of villagers to secure locations.
As of now, a total of 71 households, comprising 203 people, have been relocated from danger zones. Residents have either found refuge with relatives and friends, or been settled in nearby safe areas, preventing further casualties amid the ongoing emergency.
All-out rescue efforts underway as heavy rains sweep Guangxi
Officials from the European Union (EU) and Finland have voiced concerns after the White House said it has been discussing "a range of options" to acquire Greenland, including the use of the military.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told a press briefing in Cairo on Thursday that the message from the U.S. is "extremely concerning," and "not really helping the stability of the world."
Kallas called on all parties to stick to international law, adding that relevant response measures has been discussed among EU members.
"The international law is very clear, and we have to stick to it. It is clear that it is the only thing that protects smaller countries, and that is why it is in the interest of all of us. And we discussed this today, as well, that we uphold the international law on all levels," she said.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on Thursday described recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump and members of his administration on Greenland as "worrying," while reiterating Finland's support for Denmark and Greenland's right to self-determination.
"Finland and the other Nordic countries have exceptional expertise in Arctic conditions, and we are happy to make use of that together with our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to strengthen Arctic security, but it cannot be done by threatening allies," she said at a press conference at Finnish parliament after an extraordinary meeting of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.
Johannes Koskinen, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said it was "unprecedented" for threats of violence to be made within NATO against another member in connection with seizing territory, adding that such threats run counter to the United Nations Charter and that their inconsistency with international law should be underscored at all levels.
EU, Finnish officials express concerns over US remarks on Greenland
