Overview
- A breach at the Liulan reservoir in Hengzhou triggered large floods that forced roughly 130,000 people to be evacuated and inundated wide areas of Nanning’s outskirts, officials and images from the scene show.
- Provincial agencies report heavy losses: Guangxi authorities say at least 39 people died and nine are missing, Hubei reported at least 11 dead after tornadoes and storms, and rescuers in Gansu continue recovery work after a landslide buried dozens.
- Central authorities ordered rescue mobilization and allocated emergency funds to relief operations, with state media reporting deployments of emergency teams and financial support for affected areas.
- Residents and social media users circulated videos that suggest local damage is larger than some official summaries and raised questions about the recent renovation and failure of the Liulan reservoir’s flood protections.
- Meteorologists link the extreme rains to El Niño and record-warm seas and warn that Super Typhoon Bavi, forecast to pass near Taiwan then approach China this weekend, could bring fresh heavy rain and heighten flood and landslide risks.