Rivers in Southwest China Exceed Warning Levels, Triggering Mass Evacuations
Rivers in Southwest China Exceed Warning Levels, Triggering Mass Evacuations
Twenty-five rivers in southwestern China have surpassed safe levels, prompting the evacuation of over 10,000 people, according to state media. The situation has been exacerbated by the remnants of former typhoon Danas merging with the East Asian monsoon rains, leading to extreme rainfall and severe flooding.
Experts have linked the unprecedented rainfall to climate change, highlighting the increasing challenges posed by extreme weather events. These floods threaten to overwhelm aging flood defenses, displace millions, and disrupt a $2.8 trillion agricultural sector.
Heavy rains also affected Beijing, with one area in the Chaoyang district receiving 68.2 mm (2.7 inches) of rain in a single hour on Thursday morning. The situation has raised concerns about the potential for river embankments and levees to burst, particularly in densely populated regions like Chongqing.
CCTV, citing the water resources ministry, warned that ten rivers, including the Longyan River, could breach their banks at any moment. While the remaining 15 rivers have exceeded safe levels, they pose a lesser risk. The Chishui River in Guizhou province reached its highest level since records began in 1953, and the Xiaocao River in Sichuan province hit its highest in 29 years.
Over 10,000 people were evacuated from cities in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces as the monsoon rains pushed north. In Yunnan, one county recorded 227.8 mm (9 inches) of rainfall in 24 hours, the highest in a single day since 1958. Two people lost their lives in Zhaotong city due to torrential rain.
Beijing health authorities have warned of increased risks of water and food contamination due to the frequent downpours, high temperatures, and humidity.
The ongoing crisis underscores the growing vulnerability of China’s infrastructure and population to the impacts of climate change. As extreme weather events become more frequent, the need for improved flood management and infrastructure resilience has never been more urgent.
