‘We Were Rescued From The Third Floor’: Families Recall The Terror Of Rising Waters In China

At least six people have died and over 80,000 residents have been forced to evacuate after devastating floods struck Guizhou province in southwest China on Thursday, June 26, 2025, according to state-run media.

The deluge was triggered by days of relentless rain, coinciding with the landfall of a tropical depression that continues to threaten parts of southern China.

China’s national broadcaster, CCTV, reported on Thursday that “exceptionally large floods” have been inundating Rongjiang county in Guizhou since Tuesday.

Authorities responded by activating the province’s highest level of emergency flood response, relocating nearly 81,000 residents to safer areas.

“By 11 a.m. Thursday, six fatalities had been confirmed,” local officials said in a statement issued by the flood control headquarters.

While floodwaters have since started to recede below emergency levels, the damage has already taken a significant toll on communities.

Much of Rongjiang’s infrastructure has been badly affected.

Low-lying neighborhoods were submerged, causing widespread disruptions to transportation and communication networks.

In some areas, people were left stranded and had to be rescued by emergency personnel.

Rescue workers deployed boats to reach trapped residents, and temporary shelters have been established for the displaced population.

Dramatic images shared by the Xinhua News Agency showed streets transformed into rivers and emergency teams navigating submerged areas to assist residents.

One photo captured a football field under nearly three meters (10 feet) of water.

In another account, a resident described being rescued from the third floor of their home, underscoring the scale and intensity of the flooding.

As cleanup operations begin, locals in flood-hit areas have started returning to assess the damage.

In parts of Guizhou where the floodwaters have receded, people were seen removing debris and mud from homes, businesses, and public spaces.

The flood crisis in Guizhou unfolded just as a tropical depression made landfall in Hainan province, located on an island off China’s southern coast.

According to the National Meteorological Center, the storm is expected to travel across northeastern Hainan before moving back into the South China Sea.

It is forecast to hit southern Guangdong province next, with further weakening anticipated.

Despite its downgrade from a stronger storm system, the tropical depression poses a renewed threat to regions already grappling with heavy rain.

The provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan, home to tens of millions of people, are bracing for more rainfall and the possibility of flash floods or landslides.

Many of these areas have seen repeated weather alerts this season.

This summer has brought extreme weather patterns across China.

Alongside the floods, sweltering heat has gripped parts of the country.

Earlier this week, Beijing was placed under the second-highest heat alert as the capital endured one of its hottest days so far this year.

Meanwhile, just last week in Hunan province, which borders Guizhou, tens of thousands were also evacuated due to intense rainfall caused by Typhoon Wutip.

The back-to-back impact of typhoons, tropical storms, and persistent rain has put immense pressure on local authorities and emergency services.

China’s vulnerability to extreme weather events has been increasing, a trend scientists link to the broader global impacts of climate change.

Seasonal floods are not uncommon, but their frequency and severity have intensified in recent years.

This has raised concerns about disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience, particularly in rural and mountainous regions.

While the immediate danger in Rongjiang county has passed, the focus has shifted to recovery.

Local governments are now assessing the full extent of the damage, assisting affected families, and initiating repairs to roads, communication lines, and other essential services.

Authorities continue to monitor weather developments closely, particularly the movement of the tropical depression across southern provinces.

With more rainfall expected in the coming days, residents in vulnerable areas have been urged to remain alert and follow official guidance.

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