The city of Guilin is suffering the worst flooding since 1998, with villagers stranded in their homes, businesses submerged and a train station suspended, due to heavy rains that continue to ravage southern China.
At least nine people died and hundreds were left homeless in the south of the country. Guilin authorities issued an emergency warning of flood level 1 on Wednesday, according to the local press. By late afternoon, the water level in the city’s Lijiang River section had risen to 148.55 meters, 2.55 meters above the alert level and slightly above the peak of 148.4 meters recorded. in 1998, state television CCTV said.
????????? | Major flooding due to extreme rainfall in Guilin, Guangxi region, China. July 19, 2024. pic.twitter.com/AshO45JAQu
– World events ???? (@Eventomundo) June 20, 2024
The devastating floods of 1998 lasted two months and caused damage in 24 provinces. In total, 3,004 people died.
According to CCTV, several areas of Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were affected by the latest rains. To date, 69 residents have been rescued from their homes by boat.
Schools and buses were suspended and some tourist attractions were closed. Local traffic police said Wednesday that several roads were flooded and one the highway had partially collapsed.
Train passengers were advised to use Guilin North Station after the public plaza at Guilin Main Station was flooded.
#Guilina tourist city in southern China #Guangxi The Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Wednesday night, raised its #flood control the level of emergency response from Level II to Level I, such as #lijiangriver experienced its largest flooding since 1998. https://t.co/Huot5CKoCi pic.twitter.com/2LST94PV3I
– Global Times (@globaltimesnews) June 20, 2024
Guilin station reported this Thursday on the Weibo social network that some trains had been suspended and others would suffer delays.
Toward storms that devastated the region and caused flooding in the neighboring provinces of Guangdong and Fujian are expected to subside in the coming days, according to the meteorological office. However, Guilin can expect at least two more days of heavy rain.
Source: Observadora
