Beijing, July 16: Severe flooding in Guangxi, China, triggered by heavy rainfall, has resulted in the tragic loss of 39 lives, with 9 individuals reported missing. Chinese authorities provided updates on the flood situation during a press conference on Thursday.
Officials confirmed that the fatalities include victims from the collapse of a major dam in the regional capital, Nanning. According to the Xinhua news agency, the emergency flood response level was elevated from Level 4 to Level 3 due to the catastrophic flooding caused by torrential rains in Jilin province.
The continuous heavy rainfall in Jilin, influenced by Typhoon Bavi, has led to the year’s first significant flood in the Songhua River section. The Meihe River, a tributary of the Huifa River, has reached its highest water level since hydrological records began.
It is anticipated that the water level of the entire Huifa River will exceed warning levels. Additionally, there remains a risk of flooding in rivers, flash floods in hilly areas, landslides, emergencies in small and medium-sized dams, and urban waterlogging. Authorities have stated that the flood control situation remains serious and complex.
Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Water Resources announced on Tuesday that light to heavy rainfall is expected in the eastern parts of northwest China until Friday. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is also likely in certain areas of central and southern Shanxi province.
During this period, water levels in the Yellow River and its tributaries (Weihe, Fenhe, and Qinhe rivers) are expected to rise, with some small and medium-sized rivers in affected areas potentially exceeding warning levels.
The ministry has urged water resource officials in Shanxi and Shaanxi, along with relevant river basin management agencies, to enhance monitoring, forecasting, and timely warning systems. They have also been advised to ensure the safety of reservoirs and silt dams while intensifying flood prevention efforts in small and medium rivers and hilly streams.
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