Southern China Mobilizes Emergency Response to Heavy Rainfall and Flooding
Multiple regions across southern China have activated emergency response measures as torrential rains associated with the annual “Dragon Boat Water” season continue to batter Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian provinces, triggering mass evacuations, widespread school closures, and significant transportation disruptions.
Extreme Rainfall and Widespread Impact
The heaviest rainfall began on June 14 and persisted through June 17, with the hardest-hit areas including Guangdong Province’s Shanwei, Jieyang, Shenzhen, and Huizhou regions, as well as Guangxi’s Hengzhou, Bobai, and Yulin. In Lufeng City, Shanwei, the average rainfall reached 329 mm between June 13 and 15, with Jiaxi Town recording over 600 mm — described by local authorities as a “once-in-50-years” extreme rainstorm, according to CCTV News.
The China Meteorological Administration maintained an orange rainstorm warning on June 17, the second-highest alert level, as the Central Meteorological Observatory predicted continued but weakening rainfall across the affected regions.
Emergency Response Escalation
Guangdong Province raised its flood control emergency response from Level IV to Level III on June 14 at 19:00, with multiple cities including Shanwei, Meizhou, Jieyang, and Shantou following suit. Huilai County activated the highest Level I emergency response. Guangxi raised its rainstorm warning from Level IV to Level III on June 15, as reported by China News Service. The National Flood Control Headquarters maintained a Level IV emergency response across six provinces.
According to Yicai, as of June 14 at 20:00, a total of 13,283 people had been evacuated across Guangdong Province. In Jiaxi Town, Lufeng, 455 people were evacuated from dangerous areas, while Bobai County in Guangxi evacuated over 6,000 residents to safety.
School Closures and Transportation Disruptions
Shenzhen implemented city-wide school closures for all primary and secondary schools, kindergartens, and training institutions. Lufeng, Jiexi, Huilai, Puning, and parts of Guangxi including Rongxian, Bobai, and Wuzhou also issued school suspension orders. China Railway Guangzhou Group suspended select trains on the Beijing-Guangzhou, Beijing-Kowloon, and Hangzhou-Shenzhen railway lines on June 14-15.
Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage
A tornado that struck Shanwei’s Red Bay coastal area on June 13 damaged transmission lines, contributing to widespread power outages. Guangdong Power Grid raised its response to Level III and restored power to 97% of the 42.3% of households initially affected. In Lufeng, the Wukan River and Aojiang River exceeded flood warning levels, and a levee breach occurred in Dabeicun, Jiaxi Town. Landslides blocked roads in Bobai County, Guangxi.
Humanitarian Response
Lin Ang-hui, a Party Committee Member of Jiaxi Town, described the relief effort: “After the supplies arrived, we unloaded them from the boats and placed them here. Then all our personnel took the supplies door to door. For those unable to come out, we went to each household and delivered supplies directly into their hands — we had to see them in person.”
The “Clean Water 24 Hours” emergency drinking water mechanism delivered 48,000 bottles of water to evacuation centers in Lufeng on June 16, coordinated by Coca-Cola China, the One Foundation, and local volunteers, as reported by Guangzhou Daily.
Understanding the “Dragon Boat Water” Season
The “Dragon Boat Water” is an annual meteorological phenomenon in southern China, typically occurring from mid-to-late May through mid-June. It is characterized by abundant moisture transported by the South China Sea summer monsoon, which collides with lingering cold air from the north to produce intense rainfall. Over 70% of southern China’s mountainous terrain amplifies precipitation as moist air is forced to rise and condense, as explained by 21st Century Business Herald.
Analysis and Outlook
The severity of the 2026 “Dragon Boat Water” season raises questions about the influence of climate change on extreme precipitation events in southern China. The 600 mm-plus rainfall recorded in Jiaxi Town aligns with scientific projections of increased rainfall intensity in a warming climate.
As of June 17, rainfall was expected to persist but gradually weaken. Lufeng had already downgraded its flood response to Level III as waters receded. However, with the Dragon Boat Festival approaching and soil saturation levels remaining critically high across the region, authorities continue to monitor river levels and maintain readiness for further emergency response.
The full extent of economic damage, particularly to agriculture and infrastructure, remains to be assessed as the flood season continues across southern China.