Guizhou Province Submerged Again: Second Major Flood Hits Rongjiang City

Relentless rainfall has once again overwhelmed China’s Guizhou province, causing Rongjiang city to be half-submerged for the second time this week, displacing tens of thousands and raising concerns about the escalating impacts of climate change.

A City Under Siege: Repeated Flooding and Mass Evacuations

The southwestern Chinese province of Guizhou is grappling with a devastating flood crisis, as heavy rain continues to batter the region. The city of Rongjiang, situated at the confluence of three rivers, has been particularly hard hit, experiencing a second major inundation within a week. Just days after record downpours left six people dead and forced over 80,000 to evacuate, fresh floodwaters swept through the city on June 28th, half-submerging neighborhoods and prompting urgent evacuations to higher ground. The amount of rainfall over a 72-hour period exceeded the city’s average for the entire month of June, highlighting the extreme nature of the weather event.

Authorities have raised Rongjiang’s flood emergency response to the highest level, anticipating that the peak water level will exceed the safety threshold by 2 meters. As of June 28th, more than 40,000 residents had been urgently evacuated, with rescue teams working tirelessly to reach those stranded in the floodwaters. The previous peak water level reached 256.7 meters earlier this week, the highest recorded since 1954, prompting the Guizhou provincial government to attribute the extreme conditions to the effects of a changing climate. The scale of the flooding underscores the vulnerability of riverside communities to increasingly frequent and intense weather events.

The economic impact of the floods is significant. Rongjiang, having been lifted out of poverty in 2020, had experienced a surge in tourism thanks to the unexpected popularity of its “Village Super League” – a local soccer league that became a social media sensation. Tragically, the soccer pitch was submerged under 7 meters of water on June 24th, symbolizing the disruption and devastation caused by the floods. The loss of livelihoods and infrastructure will undoubtedly set back the city’s economic progress and require substantial investment in reconstruction efforts.

The Climate Connection: Intensifying Rainfall and Future Risks

China has a long history of grappling with summer floods, but scientists are increasingly linking the increased frequency and intensity of these events to climate change. Warmer temperatures lead to higher evaporation rates, resulting in more moisture in the atmosphere and heavier rainfall. This trend is particularly concerning for regions like Guizhou, which are already prone to flooding due to their topography and monsoon climate. Chinese officials have warned that massive flooding could trigger unforeseen “black swan events,” such as dam collapses, with potentially catastrophic consequences.

The current crisis in Guizhou is not an isolated incident. Across southern China, 13 major rivers in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Hainan have exceeded their warning levels in the past two days, according to the Ministry of Water Resources. This widespread flooding underscores the regional scale of the crisis and the need for coordinated efforts to mitigate the risks. The situation demands a comprehensive approach that includes improved flood control infrastructure, enhanced early warning systems, and, crucially, ambitious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to address the root causes of climate change.

The experience of Rongjiang serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate adaptation measures. Investing in resilient infrastructure, developing effective disaster preparedness plans, and supporting communities in adapting to a changing climate are essential steps to protect lives and livelihoods. The story of Rongjiang is a warning to the world – a testament to the devastating consequences of inaction and a call for collective action to address the climate crisis.

Key Takeaways

• Guizhou province in China is experiencing severe flooding, with Rongjiang city being half-submerged for the second time this week.
• Over 40,000 residents have been evacuated, and the previous flood event claimed six lives and displaced over 80,000 people.
• Scientists are linking the increased frequency and intensity of rainfall to climate change, raising concerns about future risks.
• The flooding is disrupting the local economy, particularly the tourism sector, which had recently experienced a boom.
• The crisis highlights the urgent need for climate adaptation measures, improved flood control infrastructure, and global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.