Rescue Aircraft Carrier Deploys to Flood-Hit Guangxi County

A massive power-driven pontoon bridge—dubbed the “rescue aircraft carrier”—has been deployed to the flood-stricken Ningming county in Guangxi as Typhoon Zitan continues to unleash record-breaking rainfall across the region. The specialized rescue vessel arrived at Beijiang township on August 24, where it was assembled, launched into the water, and pressed into service for rescue operations, according to China Economic Net.

A Region Under Water

Ningming county, located in Chongzuo city near the Vietnam border, has been among the hardest hit by Typhoon Zitan—the 19th typhoon of 2026—which has hovered over the Beibu Gulf for days, bringing continuous heavy rainfall. The Ming River at the county seat reached 123.31 meters on August 24, exceeding the warning level by 7.31 meters and continuing to rise, as reported by Xinhua News.

The flood levels are approaching the historical extreme of 122.62 meters recorded in September 2008. As of August 24, more than 55,000 people in Ningming county had been affected by the flooding, with over 19,000 residents evacuated and more than 1,200 rescue personnel deployed from various units, according to China News Service.

The “Rescue Aircraft Carrier”

The power-driven pontoon bridge is a modular amphibious bridge system operated by China Anneng Group, a central enterprise transformed from the former Armed Police Hydropower Force in 2018. Each module is approximately 10 meters long, and two combined modules can transport roughly 300 people. A full set can carry up to 60 tons of cargo, including vehicles and excavators, and can transport up to 500 people at once.

The vessel gained national attention in July when it transferred more than 6,000 trapped students and teachers from a flooded college in Guigang, Guangxi, in under 20 hours during Typhoon Meisak. As Xiaoxiang Morning News reported, rescue team member Zhu Hui recalled that “students cheered when they saw us coming. Initially, I was also afraid when I started this line of work, but this is our battlefield.”

Coordinated Rescue Efforts

China Anneng’s Nanning base dispatched 40 command personnel and 35 sets of equipment in two batches to support Ningming. As of August 24, they had transferred 312 trapped residents from Beijiang township and other areas, and delivered over 500 items of emergency supplies including medicine and food.

The Armed Police Chongzuo Detachment deployed troops to search and transfer trapped people at Zhulian village, successfully rescuing an 80-year-old sick elderly person living alone and three unattended children. The Chongzuo Military Sub-district deployed more than 400 militia members for rescue operations, as Guangming Online reported.

Rescue workers have been working around the clock. Nong Lisheng, a rescue worker from the Chongzuo Fire Rescue Bureau, told Xinhua: “I’ve made over a dozen trips today, can’t count them anymore.” He had only slept two hours and eaten two meals in two days. Eleven-year-old Huang Haoyu, rescued from his flooded first-floor home, said: “When I saw the rescue personnel arrive, I wasn’t afraid of anything anymore.”

National Response and Infrastructure Threats

The National Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief Committee and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated the national Level 4 disaster relief emergency response for Guangxi on August 24 and dispatched a working group to the disaster area, as China News Service reported. The National Development and Reform Commission urgently allocated 50 million yuan from central budget investment to support post-disaster emergency recovery, focusing on damaged roads, water infrastructure, schools, and hospitals, according to China News Service.

The Ningming Bridge on the Ming River faces the threat of being submerged, with water already reaching the bottom of the bridge and about 1.4 meters to the bridge deck. Approximately 100 meters of floating debris—an estimated 20,000 cubic meters—has been accumulating, and the county has deployed excavators and transport vehicles for debris clearing operations, as reported by Xinhua via Sina.

The Guangxi Water Resources Department has implemented coordinated reservoir operations for the Yujiang River basin, pre-discharging reservoirs including Zuojang Hydro-junction, Shanshou, Laokou, Xijin, and Jinjitan to manage flood levels, according to China News Service.

What’s Next

The flood peak is expected to arrive at Ningming county on the evening of August 25, with water levels expected to overtop the Ningming Bridge. Local officials have acknowledged significant shortages of tents, quilts, folding beds, emergency food, drinking water, and disinfection supplies, as China News Service reported.

As the typhoon’s impact continues and water levels remain uncertain, rescue teams from across the region are pushing forward. The deployment of the “rescue aircraft carrier” underscores the scale of the emergency response—and the determination to reach every resident in need.