Heavy Rainfall and Flooding
Incessant rainfall over the past two days has inundated several areas in Meizhou, Guangdong Province, China, leading to widespread flooding, power outages, and the isolation of villages.
The torrential downpours began on the evening of June 15 and continued throughout June 16, wreaking havoc across the central and southern parts of Meizhou, including the city center. Major roads were severely flooded, crippling transportation. Power outages were also reported in many areas. Remote villages were cut off due to rising floodwaters blocking access routes.
Casualties and Evacuations
As of June 18 morning, over 11,100 residents have been evacuated to safety, with 5 reported fatalities and at least 15 people still missing.
Infrastructure Damage and Isolation
Meizhou was transformed into a virtual "sea" by the unprecedented rainfall. By 7 AM on June 17, according to Southern Power Grid Corporation's Meizhou branch, 137,969 households in the city remained without power. Many areas are still isolated, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage.
"I've never seen rain like this," said Wang Sheng, a resident of Tang Oling Village in Xinpu Town, Meizhou. "The floodwaters came crashing down like a waterfall, all day long." Wang's family of three was trapped on the third floor of their home since June 16 as the floodwaters rose. Their phone signal was intermittent, occasionally dropping out. According to Wang, not only his village but also several riverside areas in Meizhou were heavily flooded.
Rescue Efforts and Interruptions
Residents and rescuers have been using boats to navigate through the flooded streets.
In Chaoyang Town, Dazhou District, Zhang Li reported that the heavy rains caused the river near her home to overflow, resulting in severe flooding. Transportation and communication were disrupted. "Around 11-12 PM last night, we received an announcement that water would be released from the reservoir, urging residents to evacuate to safety," Zhang recalled. The village has many elderly and young children, so they quickly sought shelter with relatives or moved to higher ground to escape the floodwaters.
Landslides and River Breaches
In Pingyuan, one of the hardest-hit areas, the heavy precipitation triggered landslides, severely disrupting traffic and causing some roads to collapse.
Rainfall data from meteorological observations indicate that Meizhou received an average of 52.3 millimeters of rain. Pingyuan County recorded the highest average rainfall, reaching 179.1 millimeters. A red rainstorm warning—the highest level—remains in effect.
According to CCTV, three rivers in Meizhou—the Shique River, the Songyuan River, and the Saican River—have all exceeded their red alert levels. Several sections of the rivers have overflowed their banks. Some small reservoirs have also reached or exceeded their capacity, with some experiencing breaches.
Summary
Record-breaking rainfall in Meizhou, Guangdong, has caused widespread flooding, leading to widespread infrastructure damage, power outages, and the displacement of thousands of residents. The death toll currently stands at 5, with 15 people still reported missing. Rescue and evacuation efforts are ongoing, and authorities are monitoring the situation closely as the red rainstorm warning remains in effect.