Southwest China on alert for more deadly floods as downpours again threaten rain-soaked county
At least six people have died in Rongjiang in Guizhou province as water levels have risen to record levels
A county in southwestern China is bracing for another deluge just days after record floods killed at least six people.
Authorities in Rongjiang county in Guizhou province ordered the evacuation of half a dozen areas on Saturday as heavy rain was again forecast for the region.
“Exceptionally large floods” began sweeping through the county on Tuesday, setting new benchmarks for both rainfall and water levels, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Thursday without saying what those levels were.
The water inundated low-lying areas and inflicted severe damage on some infrastructure, cutting transport and communication links.
By 2.15pm on Tuesday, the hydrological station on one of the rivers near Rongjiang recorded a peak water level of 256.71 metres (842 feet), or 5.21 metres above the upper limit of the flood control engineering system’s ability to ensure its own safe operation.
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The county’s biggest shopping centre was underwater but by early Wednesday morning, the rain had stopped and the floodwaters had begun to recede.