China Flood Disaster: 159 Dead, 10 Missing After Reservoir Breaches
By VANCE SHERIFF
SEVERE flooding has killed 159 people in China’s Guangxi region, while 10 others remain missing after prolonged heavy rainfall triggered widespread disasters across the area.
State-run Xinhua news agency reported the figures on Friday, citing local authorities. The rains began in early July and produced unusually prolonged downpours that overwhelmed communities and caused several reservoirs to breach.
At least 107 people died after reservoir breaches unleashed floodwaters. The disaster affected more than 1.6 million people in the two worst-hit cities.
More than 320,000 residents fled their homes as floodwaters swept through communities, damaged infrastructure and disrupted normal life.
The scale of the disaster has now pushed Guangxi into a post-disaster recovery phase. Authorities are repairing damaged roads and other infrastructure while providing support to affected residents.
The flooding followed the passage of three typhoons — Maysak, Bavi and Noul — across China in July. The storms brought heavy rainfall and caused widespread disruption in several parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the national impact has been substantial. China’s Ministry of Emergency Management said natural disasters across the country in July left 318 people dead or missing.
The disasters also caused direct economic losses estimated at 57.15 billion yuan, equivalent to about $8.5 billion.
For Guangxi, however, the immediate priority remains the recovery of communities devastated by the floods. Authorities face the difficult task of rebuilding damaged infrastructure while accounting for those still missing.
