Flood-affected Guangxi gets additional aid

China heightened emergency response efforts in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Monday after Typhoon Maysak triggered severe flooding, causing multiple reservoirs to overflow or breach as persistent heavy rainfall was forecast through Tuesday in some areas.

Authorities in Nanning, the regional capital, raised the city's flood-control emergency response from Level III to Level I, the highest level, after Liulan and Yunbiao reservoirs in Hengzhou, a county-level city under Nanning, experienced overtopping and dam breaches on Monday morning. The Liuwang Reservoir in neighboring Binyang county also overflowed, according to the Nanning Emergency Management Committee.

Local authorities organized the evacuation of residents in affected areas and dispatched teams to reinforce reservoirs and assess damage.

Lei Shuiping, who lives about a kilometer downstream from the Liulan Reservoir, said she received a government alert on Sunday evening advising residents to move to higher ground and prepare daily necessities. By Monday morning, floodwater had submerged the first floor of her home.

"We have sufficient daily supplies, so we're not too worried," she said, adding that electricity remained cut off and residents were informed that power would be restored on Tuesday.

The storm brought torrential rain to central and southern Guangxi between Saturday and Monday morning, pushing water levels in 53 rivers above warning thresholds, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

Although Maysak has weakened into a tropical depression, the China Meteorological Administration said its lingering circulation, combined with the southwest monsoon, will continue to bring heavy rainfall to parts of southern and eastern China through Tuesday before gradually weakening.

In light of increasing flood risks, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its emergency response for Guangxi from Level III to Level II on Monday. The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a national working group to the region and deployed two Wing Loong unmanned aerial vehicles to support rescue operations and restore emergency communications in affected areas.

The central government has also allocated 100 million yuan ($14.7 million) to support emergency recovery efforts in the region. The funding will be used to restore damaged roads, water conservancy facilities, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure as quickly as possible.

Rescue forces continued to arrive in disaster-hit areas. China Anneng Construction Group mobilized 350 professional rescuers, including hydrological and geological experts, along with 130 sets of specialized equipment for communications, road clearance and drainage operations.

The Ministry of Emergency Management also deployed 1,372 firefighters with 270 vehicles and 140 boats, while the People's Armed Police Force and other rescue teams continued evacuating residents and delivering relief supplies to affected communities.

Meteorologists warned that flood risks were unlikely to ease immediately despite Maysak weakening into a tropical depression, as its lingering circulation continued to fuel heavy rainfall.

Ye Menglong, a meteorological expert, said the storm weakened only gradually after making landfall while maintaining a relatively intact circulation. Combined with continuous moisture transport from the southwest monsoon, the system has produced widespread, persistent and intense rainfall across parts of South China, with several areas in Guangxi recording their highest daily rainfall on record for July.

Contact the writers at zhengjinran@chinadaily.com.cn