Six killed by severe flooding in Guizhou

Bulldozers clear mud at the iconic Village Super League stadium in Rongjiang county, Guizhou province, after recent floods. (WANG BINGZHEN/FOR CHINA DAILY)

Six people have been confirmed dead as of 11 am on Thursday after severe flooding hit Rongjiang county in Guizhou province, according to local flood control authorities.

The county has been battered by torrential rains and rising rivers since Tuesday, with peak flows reaching 11,360 cubic meters per second. Floodwaters crested the same day, submerging much of the low-lying urban area and causing widespread damage to infrastructure. Power, water and communication services were disrupted, and many roads were rendered impassable.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters dispatched a team on Tuesday to oversee flood response and rescue operations in the county.

Water levels in the county seat have since fallen below warning levels. Emergency crews are now clearing silt, pumping water out of low-lying neighborhoods and disinfecting affected areas.

Major roads reopened on Wednesday, but damage remains extensive. In the county's old town, several timber buildings collapsed, and many streets are still underwater. At one submerged structure, residents said floodwaters had washed away entire wooden beams, leaving the building uninhabitable.

By Wednesday evening, power had been partially restored to streetlights and community facilities. Early on Thursday, water service resumed on the lower floors of buildings in the urban area.

The China Southern Power Grid dispatched personnel from its headquarters and municipal branches to expedite electricity restoration, the local power bureau said.

One of the county's most iconic sites, the Village Super League soccer field, was left buried under a thick layer of silt. The pitch's fencing, stands and steel-framed ticket booths were destroyed.

Excavators began cleanup efforts on Wednesday. "The mud still reaches knee height in some areas. We aim to finish within a week," a rescue worker told China Daily.

Soccer holds a special place in the hearts of local residents, some of whom were seen wearing team jerseys as they assisted with the cleanup efforts while children kicked balls down newly cleared streets.

Yang Bing, a commentator for the Village Super League, returned to Rongjiang the day after the flood hit and helped coordinate the delivery of generators and establish charging stations.

"The last flood this severe was in 1996, but it wasn't this bad. The season's matches will be postponed, but we all hope to return to the pitch soon," Yang said.

Ouyang Zhangwei, the league's head of communications, said the damage to the field was extensive.

"Much of the turf and equipment will need to be replaced," Ouyang explained. "We aim to resume play within two weeks."

At the county's largest commercial complex, floodwaters reached the second floor of the three-story building. The basement-level Heli Supermarket and its parking lot were submerged on Tuesday morning and remained underwater as of Wednesday night, despite multiple pumps operating around the clock.

"We're one of Rongjiang's largest supermarkets. On the eve of the flood, we moved goods to higher shelves and blocked doors with sandbags and rice bags," said manager Gong Chanchang. "But once the water crested street level, it poured in within minutes. Now all you see is water — that's my store."

She estimated her losses at over 10 million yuan ($1.39 million), but when factoring in the other tenants, the losses are believed to be more than 20 million yuan. "Thankfully, pumping trucks arrived early. We hope to reopen soon," Gong said.

Elsewhere in the complex, a milk-tea shop owner surnamed Wei swept out sludge with a broom. She said she had just completed renovations two months ago and lost more than 1 million yuan. "The water came too fast. Nothing could be saved," she said.

A militiaman from Sansui county, roughly 130 kilometers away, said water pumping would take about three days, and silt removal around a week.

By noon on Wednesday, more than 100,000 residents had been affected by the disaster, with over 51,000 evacuated. As of Thursday, 41 teams from outside Rongjiang with more than 3,100 people had arrived in the county to support rescue operations, according to the local government.