Massive floods in China’s most populous province, Guangdong, have prompted the evacuation of nearly 60,000 residents from their homes. State media reported three fatalities and 11 individuals missing due to the deluge, which has submerged vast areas of land and triggered heroic rescues by lifeboat-wielding responders.With several major rivers breaching their banks, authorities are on high alert as water levels continue to rise perilously.
Although initial forecasts predicted a “once in 100 years” peak for a river in northern Guangdong, the feared inundation had yet to materialize by midday.Much of Guangdong, including the low-lying Pearl River delta, faces recurrent flooding exacerbated by rising sea levels and storm surges.
This region, a key industrial hub and home to millions, has witnessed widespread power outages, flight disruptions, and school closures amid the relentless downpour.The economic toll is significant, with nearly 140.6 million yuan ($19.8 million) in estimated direct losses, as homes crumble and infrastructure buckles under the force of rushing waters. Heart-wrenching accounts shared on social media depict families battling rising floodwaters, scrambling to salvage belongings and navigate treacherous conditions.
As meteorological authorities extend warnings of continued heavy rainfall in Guangdong and neighboring Fujian, apprehension mounts nationwide. Anticipated downpours in regions like Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei evoke memories of last July’s catastrophic flooding, where Beijing witnessed its most extensive rainfall in over a century following relentless typhoon strikes from the Pacific Ocean.
