River surge across China as severe rainstorm triggers widespread flooding in Guangxi

Added: 2026-05-10

[00:00:21]A powerful and slow-moving weather system  affected southern China from May 6 to 7, bringing persistent torrential rain, frequent thunderstorms, and severe  convective activity across Guangxi Province.

[00:00:49]The prolonged rainfall triggered  rapidly rising river levels, widespread urban flooding, and extensive  waterlogging in multiple cities and counties.

[00:00:58]As conditions deteriorated, local authorities escalated emergency response measures,  strengthened flood control operations, and issued successive rainstorm and geological  disaster warnings across the region.

[00:01:30]Meteorological departments explained  that this round of extreme weather was driven by a strong interaction between a  southward-moving cold air mass and warm, moisture-laden airflow from the south.

[00:01:42]This atmospheric collision created  highly unstable conditions conducive to persistent heavy rainfall and  strong thunderstorm development.

[00:02:09]As a result, northern and central Guangxi became  the primary impact zones, with Guilin, Liuzhou, Hechi, Laibin, and Hezhou experiencing repeated  bands of heavy rain over a short period of time.

[00:02:22]Several monitoring stations recorded 24-hour  accumulated rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters, while localized short-duration rainfall  reached extremely high intensity levels, with hourly precipitation surpassing  60 millimeters in some areas.

[00:02:58]Such rainfall rates overwhelmed  local drainage systems, particularly in urban districts where rapid  surface runoff led to flash flooding and widespread water accumulation on  roads and public infrastructure.

[00:03:29]Conditions escalated further in Liuzhou’s  Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, where authorities upgraded the rainstorm  warning to the highest red alert level.

[00:03:39]Continuous heavy rainfall caused the Duliu  River and several tributaries to rise rapidly, increasing flood pressure  on surrounding settlements.

[00:03:48]As river levels surged, floodwaters  overflowed into low-lying residential areas, and numerous streets across the county became  submerged under rapidly deepening water.

[00:04:19]Transport networks were severely disrupted,  with vehicles forced to navigate through flooded roads and several routes  becoming temporarily impassable.

[00:04:28]In multiple neighborhoods, floodwaters entered  the ground floors of residential buildings, roadside shops, and commercial properties.

[00:04:56]Drainage systems, already under  pressure from prolonged rainfall, were unable to cope with  the sudden influx of water.

[00:05:03]In some urban sections, stormwater  accumulated rapidly within minutes, transforming streets into fast-flowing channels.

[00:05:12]Residents reported that flood levels  rose quickly and unexpectedly, leaving little time for preparation  in certain low-lying communities.

[00:05:39]Emergency personnel were deployed to assist  with traffic management, flood monitoring, and evacuation support where necessary.

[00:05:48]Across wider parts of Guangxi, including Guilin, Liuzhou, and Laibin, widespread  urban flooding was reported.

[00:05:56]Many streets in low-lying districts were  submerged after hours of continuous rainfall, disrupting transportation and daily activities.

[00:06:04]In some areas, public facilities,  intersections, and residential compounds experienced significant water  accumulation, forcing temporary road closures.

[00:06:34]Authorities continuously monitored river  systems, reservoirs, and drainage networks, particularly in regions prone to  flash flooding and landslides.

[00:06:44]The prolonged rainfall also significantly  increased the risk of secondary disasters.

[00:06:50]Meteorological experts noted that  soil moisture levels across Guangxi had already reached near saturation due to  earlier rainfall events in preceding weeks.

[00:07:00]As a result, the latest heavy rain further  destabilized slopes in mountainous regions, raising concerns over landslides,  mudslides, and flash floods.

[00:07:31]Local governments issued repeated warnings  urging residents in high-risk zones to remain vigilant and avoid riverbanks, steep  terrain, and flood-prone lowlands.

[00:07:41]Emergency management departments at multiple levels maintained heightened  readiness throughout the event.

[00:07:47]Flood control teams conducted  continuous inspections of rivers, embankments, and reservoirs, while meteorological agencies provided frequent  updates on rainfall movement and intensity.

[00:08:22]Transportation authorities also  monitored highways and rural roads closely due to risks of landslides  and road washouts in mountainous areas.

[00:08:51]In particular, Hunan Province and  Guizhou Province reported rapidly rising water levels in several river systems, especially in western and southern  regions, where sustained rainfall contributed to increased runoff into  tributaries and mid-sized rivers.

[00:09:32]In both provinces, hydrological conditions  were closely monitored as authorities remained alert to the possibility of flash flooding and  further rises in water levels in the coming days.