BEIJING – A major reservoir dam in southern China partially collapsed on Monday following days of extreme weather. The relentless rainfall from Typhoon Maysak has triggered severe flooding across the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
Torrents of muddy water rushed into nearby towns after two sections of the Liulan Reservoir broke. Local authorities quickly raised their official flood control emergency response to the highest possible level. Rescue teams are now working to evacuate residents who live downstream from the damaged dam.
Key Takeaways
- Typhoon Maysak recently brought record-breaking heavy rain to communities across southern China over the long weekend.
- The Liulan Reservoir dam located in Guangxi suffered a massive 50-meter breach on Monday morning.
- Fast-moving floodwaters forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate to higher, safer ground.
- Emergency officials quickly raised the regional flood response to Level I to speed up rescue operations.
The massive collapse at the Liulan Reservoir occurred at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Monday. Workers noticed two major sections of the dam giving way under the immense water pressure. This structural failure created a massive gap of about 50 meters in the reservoir wall.
Millions of cubic meters of water instantly poured into the towns located just below the dam. Dangerous floodwaters quickly submerged streets, destroyed infrastructure, and completely knocked out power and communication lines. Video footage shared by state media showed ferocious torrents of brown water heading toward residential buildings.
In response to the disaster, Nanning city officials upgraded their flood emergency response to Level I. This top-tier alert allows the government to mobilize rescue workers and essential supplies much faster. Thousands of people from high-risk villages were safely moved to higher ground before the flooding peaked.
Typhoon Maysak Causes Widespread Destruction
Typhoon Maysak made landfall late last week and slowly moved across the southern Chinese mainland. The slow-moving storm dumped incredible amounts of rain, causing river levels to rise dangerously high. According to SCMP, around 48,000 people have been evacuated across the broader Nanning region.
The extreme weather has heavily impacted dozens of rivers and over sixty hydrological monitoring stations. Water levels in many affected areas have exceeded official warning thresholds by nearly six meters. In the nearby city of Guigang, flooded roads quickly turned into deep, fast-flowing urban lakes.
Emergency teams from China Anneng mobilized hundreds of professional rescuers to secure the breached dam. These specialized workers brought advanced equipment to help pump water and repair the broken barriers. Local disaster relief groups are actively distributing tents, camp beds, and other essential food supplies.
Government Rushes to Provide Emergency Relief
The Chinese government has allocated 160 million yuan to support disaster relief in affected regions. This critical funding will help local authorities rebuild roads and provide shelter for displaced families. Officials have warned that bad weather could still complicate the ongoing rescue and recovery missions.
Meteorologists expect the heavy rainfall to continue battering the Guangxi region over the coming days. Residents are being urged to stay indoors and avoid traveling near rivers or low-lying areas. The relentless rain currently makes it incredibly challenging to fully assess the total property damage.
The Liulan Reservoir was originally built in 1960 to provide drinking water and agricultural irrigation. The large facility holds nearly 96 million cubic meters of water, serving dozens of farming villages. Engineers will need to conduct extensive repairs to ensure the structure is safe once again.
China has faced a growing number of extreme weather events over the past few years. Experts link these frequent superstorms and massive floods directly to the worsening global climate crisis. Heavy rains now threaten vital infrastructure, placing thousands of rural communities at a higher risk.
Local governments are trying to improve their emergency alert systems to prevent future tragic disasters. They hope to reinforce older dams and upgrade drainage networks to handle heavier summer storms. For now, the priority remains keeping the residents of Guangxi safe until the floodwaters recede.
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