China Faces Record Floods, Braces for Second Cyclone: 80,000 Displaced, 6 Dead

Heavy rains caused a devastating flood in Guizhou province of China, killing six individuals and more than 80,000 have been displaced since Tuesday. China’s Duliu River in Rongjiang reached record heights of 11,360 cubic meters per second, rising 11 meters above the normal height.

Chinese authorities described it as an “exceptionally large flood.” As rescue efforts are now under way and another tropical storm is on its way, China remains in alert mode. Climate experts attribute stronger monsoons and predict more destructive incidents to come.

Record Flooding Hits Rongjiang

The Duliu River’s rise shocked both authorities and residents. Water levels reached historic highs, sparking widespread panic. Xinhua described the flood as a “once-in-50-years” disaster. Torrents submerged low-lying areas and heavily damaged infrastructure in several cities. Traffic halted. Communication lines broke. Many residents remained stranded.

Mass Displacement and Isolated Villages

More than 80,000 individuals were forced to evacuate their homes. Hundreds of countryside villages are still isolated. Ruined roads have stopped relief trucks in their tracks. Conditions are still hazardous. In Melin township, the Liu River rose four meters over safety levels, exacerbating the downstream effect. Emergency teams are still fighting clogged roads and collapsed bridges.

Climate Change Driving Extreme Weather

The East-Asian monsoon has become more ferocious. Climatologists now attribute these trends to global warming. They predict that more intense rains may cause “black swan” events—extremely rare but disastrous results such as dam failures.

China used to experience summer floods, similar to northeast India, but contemporary rainfall is higher than earlier trends.

Relief Measures and New Storm Threat

The China National Development and Reform Commission disbursed $14 million for disaster relief in Guizhou. On Friday, June 27, the government announced a new insurance program that would cover 70% of damages for residents of flood-risky areas. Meanwhile, another tropical cyclone is brewing over Hainan and Guangdong, after the recent Typhoon Wutip.

With the waters hardly receding, China is now bracing for a second jolt. These floods highlight an uncomfortable reality—climate change is rewriting the beat of East Asia’s summer. While new storms intensify, China has to be ready for catastrophes no longer as unusual happenings, but as a new normal.