Typhoon “Madam” made landfall in Guangdong on October 5 and continued to affect Guangxi and Yunnan on the 6th and 7th. Floods exceeding the warning levels were reported in 15 rivers in Guangxi. Internet users shared videos of villagers in Guangxi rescuing themselves from recent flooding. Villagers had previously informed that they had been stranded without any rescue for multiple days.
On October 6, due to the impact of “Madam” and its residual circulation, parts of Guangxi, Yunnan, and other areas experienced heavy rainfall.
According to the Guangxi Hydrological Center, under the influence of Typhoon No. 21 of this year, “Madam,” the rivers such as the Left River and its tributaries Ming River, Heishui River, and the tributaries of the Right River like Jian River, saw water levels rise by 1 to 8 meters. As of 8 a.m. on October 7, a total of 15 rivers with 18 stations in Guangxi, including Ming River, Right River, and tributaries like Leshui River and Yu River, recorded floods exceeding warning levels by 0.06 to 2.76 meters. The Guangxi Hydrological Center has issued an upgraded yellow flood warning.
On October 7, netizens uploaded a video of the flood disaster in Baise, saying they originally came for sightseeing but ended up witnessing the flood!
Another video showed a sudden flash flood on the afternoon of October 7 in Zhubie Township, Baise City, Guangxi.
Yunnan urgently relocated 17,122 people in Wenshan, with some enterprises suspending production and some scenic spots temporarily closed.
On October 7, the water from two major reservoirs in Wenshan, Yunnan was discharged, causing a rapid rise in water levels in the Panlong River and flooding several ecological corridors along the river.
The China Meteorological Administration stated that on the 7th, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and other areas were still experiencing heavy rainfall.
Baise and Chongzuo cities in Guangxi have been hit hard by extreme heavy rains since September 29. Videos shared by Baise residents showed many houses collapsed, homes destroyed, roads turned into waterways requiring boats for travel, and fields inundated with crops flattened.
On October 7, netizens shared firsthand accounts of Guangxi villagers’ self-rescue efforts during the flood crisis. Villagers in flooded areas of Guangxi took risks wading through the water for relocation.
In the videos, people were seen tightly clutching wooden boards around doors and windows, struggling to move through the floodwater. One blogger wrote, “Emergency relocation: the water is already above the calves, some used sticks to feel the way forward, while others supported each other towards higher ground. An aunt held onto her old hen, saying it’s to keep her children healthy and refused to let go. Houses were submerged: many houses in the village were flooded, with villagers sighing at the water-soaked walls, saying they had saved money for a lifetime to renovate their houses, and now everything is ruined.”
Xiaoyan (pseudonym) from Nianhuang Waitun, Nonghua Village, Lutong Town, Jingxi City, Baise, on October 3 informed that heavy rain poured down on the night of September 29 while villagers were asleep. When her uncle woke up and saw the serious flooding, they quickly moved their electrical appliances upstairs, but their rice and some belongings got flooded. They and other villagers voluntarily relocated to the homes on higher ground in the village.
They stayed in the village for five days without any rescue personnel coming. Xiaoyan said the village head reported the situation to the village officials, but there was no response.
Xiaoyan mentioned that food and water were quickly depleted in the village, and fortunately, on the fifth day, they borrowed a speedboat from her cousin’s friend. The young people in the village used the speedboat to buy some supplies.