The residents of Pingtou, a small village in China's southern Guangdong province, are grappling with the worst floods in living memory. While the region is accustomed to typhoons and seasonal downpours, this week’s flooding has shocked even the oldest villagers.
Between August 2 and 6, a record 622.6 mm (24.5 inches) of rain fell on Guangzhou, the provincial capital—nearly three times the city’s average August rainfall. According to state media, at least seven people died in Guangzhou, while no fatalities have been confirmed in Pingtou so far.
In Pingtou, the flooding has left homes submerged and streets waterlogged. Villagers waded through brown, knee-deep water on Friday, dragging damaged belongings from their homes. At least four buildings collapsed during the torrential rains.
“The older folks say that in the 100 years we've been here, they've never seen flooding like this,” said Mr. Zhong, a resident in his 50s. Water marks on nearby homes rose more than a metre high.
Lack of warning and support
Despite the scale of the flooding, residents say they received no warning or alerts. Many were caught off guard during the night.
73-year-old Zhang was woken by her daughter-in-law and took shelter in her son’s two-storey home. The next morning, she discovered her own house had collapsed.
“I’d been living in that house for over 50 years,” she said, sifting through the wreckage.
Others echoed frustration over the absence of government support. Mr. Zhong said officials told residents there was no relief aid available.
“There wasn’t even a bottle of mineral water provided,” he said.
Economic loss for farmers
Outside the village, local fish and duck farmer Hu Songlin said the floods had swept away his fish stock, causing immediate losses estimated at 120,000 yuan.
“Now we won’t be able to earn a single cent,” his wife Hua said.
Wider climate impact across China
The crisis in Pingtou is part of a larger pattern of extreme weather affecting China. The country is currently dealing with record rainfall in both its northern and southern regions, alongside extended heatwaves in its interior provinces.
On Thursday, China’s central government announced 430 million yuan ($59.9 million) in additional disaster relief funding, raising the total since April to over 5.8 billion yuan. Yet, many local communities, such as Pingtou, report not seeing this support on the ground.
Climate change a driving factor
Experts point to climate change as a key driver of the country’s increasing weather volatility.
“Global warming can lead to more intense rainfall,” said Professor Johnny Chan of the City University of Hong Kong. “But there’s only so much water—so when one region gets more, others get less. We're seeing wetter areas get wetter, and dry regions become even drier.”
Iran said on Sunday (10 May) that it had sent its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at launching peace talks to end the war, as signs of tentative ...
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has cited Azerbaijan as an example of what he described as a sovereign foreign policy, recalling rem...
China’s exports grew faster than expected in April, as overseas buyers moved quickly to secure supplies a...
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through med...
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing w...
Iran said on Sunday (10 May) that it had sent its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at launching peace talks to end the war, as signs of tentative movement emerged around the Strait of Hormuz despite renewed security incidents across the Gulf.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has cited Azerbaijan as an example of what he described as a sovereign foreign policy, recalling remarks made by President Ilham Aliyev during talks in Yerevan, where he sharply criticised resolutions adopted against his country by the European Parliament.
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Centre-right leader Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister on Saturday, propelled into office on promises of change after years of economic stagnation and strained ties with key allies under his predecessor Viktor Orbán.
Efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war appeared to stall as the two sides exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. A reported CIA assessment suggested Tehran could withstand a U.S. naval blockade for months despite mounting sanctions and renewed Gulf attacks.
British paratroopers and military medics have been deployed to Tristan da Cunha after a suspected hantavirus case was confirmed, as first evacuation flights carrying passengers from the stricken MV Hondius cruise ship left Tenerife for Madrid and Paris.
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Indonesian rescue teams have located two Singaporeans who went missing after Mount Dukono erupted on Friday (8 May) on the island of Halmahera, though authorities say it remains unclear whether they are alive.
The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) on Friday (8 May), following an order from President Donald Trump. U.S. officials described as a push for “unprecedented transparency”.
Destruction of the world's tropical forests eased in 2025 from a record high, a report showed on Wednesday, underscoring how decisive policy can help keep trees standing despite pressures from a warmer climate and expanding agricultural frontiers.
Kazakhstan has ratified a regional green energy agreement with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, signalling Central Asia’s ambition to become a key supplier of renewable energy to international markets.
China’s growing use of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles took centre stage at the Beijing Auto Show 2026, which opened on 24 April, highlighting the country’s expanding clean transport ambitions.
Global weather forecasters predict a strong El Niño will develop in the second half of 2026, bringing hotter, drier conditions to much of Asia while increasing rainfall in parts of North and South America.
Communities in Mexico have taken to the streets to protest against an ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that has killed wildlife and damaged coral reefs over several weeks.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment