Severe Flooding in Guangxi Leaves 39 Dead and 9 Missing
Flood Devastation in Guangxi Region
A screengrab image shows the aerial view of the Guangxi region submerged in floods(source: @sustainme_in/X)
Beijing, July 16: Recent torrential rains have resulted in catastrophic flooding in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, leading to the deaths of 39 individuals and leaving nine others unaccounted for, as reported by local authorities on Thursday.
The fatalities include those caused by a significant breach at a reservoir in Nanning, the regional capital, as detailed in a press briefing on flood control and disaster relief.
On Tuesday, officials escalated the emergency flood response in Jilin Province from Level IV to Level III due to severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall, according to reports.
Typhoon Bavi has brought relentless rain to Jilin, resulting in the first major flood of 2026 along the Songhua River. The Meihe River, a tributary of the Huifa River, has recorded its highest flood levels since records began. The Huifa River is anticipated to exceed warning levels, with significant risks of river flooding, mountain torrents, geological hazards, and urban waterlogging.
Additionally, the Ministry of Water Resources in China has forecasted moderate to heavy rainfall across eastern parts of northwest China from Tuesday through Friday, with severe storms expected in central Shaanxi and southern Shanxi Provinces.
Water levels are projected to rise in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and its tributaries, including the Weihe, Fenhe, and Qinhe rivers, with some smaller rivers in affected areas likely to experience flooding beyond warning thresholds.
The ministry has called on water resource authorities in Shanxi and Shaanxi, along with relevant river basin management bodies, to enhance monitoring, forecasting, and early warning systems, ensuring the safety of reservoirs and silt dams while intensifying flood prevention measures in smaller rivers and mountain torrents.