Flash floods sweep through Shuilong as heavy rains hit Guangdong, China

Heavy to torrential rainfall affected southeast China’s Guangdong Province from May 8 to 11. Damaishan Town recorded 130 mm (5 inches) of rainfall, while Pingding Town registered 81 mm (3 inches) in a single hour.

On May 11, Shuilong Village in Hongyang Town was inundated, with floodwaters reaching waist level in some areas. Videos on social media showed torrents sweeping through the village, prompting residents to evacuate their belongings, including by boat.

As of May 10, the Guangdong Provincial Emergency Management Department reported no casualties or injuries. A total of 3 221 people were preemptively evacuated, including 790 in Shaoguan, 1 256 in Meizhou, and 774 in Qingyuan.

In Shuilong, dozens of households were moved to shelters or higher ground. Authorities confirmed that river levels remained below warning thresholds, and no major urban areas experienced severe impacts.

Agricultural damage in Shuilong was significant, with flooding in paddy fields and orchards destroying rice seedlings and vegetables. Farmers previously reported total crop losses in similar floods in 2024. Smaller village roads and bridges were likely damaged, but major highways and railway lines remained operational.

By May 10, emergency responses were initiated in 53 counties, including Shanwei, Maoming, and Guangzhou. Authorities pre-deployed 7 helicopters, 81 emergency repair teams comprising 2 200 personnel, and 21 water rescue teams with over 1 000 boats.

The Department of Natural Resources conducted inspections at 4 380 sites for geological hazards, deploying 7 657 personnel, while transportation authorities suspended 212 road and water transport projects to maintain safety.

The floods occurred during the “Dragon Boat Water” season, a period marked by frequent heavy rainfall in southern China. For May 2025, five major rainfall events were forecasted.

The rainfall episode from May 9 to 11 brought heavy to torrential precipitation, with totals 10–20% above average in northern Guangdong. Meteorologists assessed a low probability of tropical systems but warned of a heatwave expected from May 17 to 19.

Climate projections indicate that average temperatures for May may be 0.5–1.0 °C (0.9–1.8 °F) above normal.

References:

¹ 广东防御强降雨强对流天气 提前转移群众3221人 – Chinese News Network – May 10, 2025

² “龙舟水”将至 5月或有5次降水 – Yangcheng Evening News – May 3, 2025

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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