A river overflows in southern China, stranding people and turning streets into canals

Rescue teams in southern China’s Guangdong province used rubber boats on Wednesday to evacuate residents and deliver essential supplies as severe flooding inundated multiple towns.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, approximately 30,000 people have been evacuated from Huaiji County following several days of intense rainfall. Over half of the roads in the county are underwater, and widespread power and internet outages have been reported.

The Suijiang River overflowed in a densely populated area, transforming large stretches of streets into waterways. Aerial images showed high-rise buildings and green tree canopies rising above muddy floodwaters. In many places, flood levels reached midway up the first floors of buildings, with only the tops of cars visible.

Huaiji County lies near the Guangxi border, roughly 140 kilometers (90 miles) northwest of Guangzhou, a key industrial and port hub that serves as Guangdong’s provincial capital.

The flooding was triggered by heavy rainfall brought by Tropical Storm Wutip, which was followed by seasonal monsoon rains earlier this week. Over the weekend, two landslides in Guangxi caused by the tropical storm claimed the lives of five people.

A rescue worker interviewed during a livestream by the Southern Metropolis Daily said his team was working to evacuate critically ill patients from a hospital. They had delivered water and milk powder to a woman with a newborn and were also providing supplies to dozens of children and elderly individuals sheltering in a school.