Torrential rains disrupt traffic, raise flood alerts in south China

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 5, 2025 shows the site of a road collapse in Duanzhou District of Zhaoqing City, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Ennan)

GUANGZHOU, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Torrential rains have disrupted traffic across highways and rural roads in south China's Guangdong Province, prompting authorities to ramp up emergency response efforts as flood risks intensify.

Three expressway sections, six national or provincial highway sections, and 25 rural roads remain closed as of 5 p.m. Tuesday due to heavy rainfall, according to the provincial transport department.

Emergency crews have been dispatched to repair damaged roads.

Guangdong raised its emergency flood response to Level II -- the second-highest level in China's four-tier system -- at 2 p.m. Tuesday, after meteorological and hydrological forecasts warned of continued heavy rainfall and rising river levels.

By 10 a.m., 16 rivers across the province had exceeded warning levels.

Rain is expected to persist across parts of Guangdong on Wednesday, before easing on Thursday and Friday.

In south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, authorities reported that the flood levels at three hydrological stations had surpassed warning thresholds. The Nankang hydrological station on the Nankang River has recorded the highest flood level since 2017, and the Xinlong station on the Wulai River has reported its highest level since 2018, according to the regional hydrology center.