China's Guangxi Reservoir Breach Affects Over 100,000 Downstream, Villages Isolated, Many Trapped

GUANGXI, China (CNA) - Guangxi has been hit by heavy rainfall, causing the Liulan Reservoir to breach on the 6th. The only bridge connecting to a village adjacent to the reservoir was washed away, turning it into an "isolated island" with no roads, internet, or electricity. Approximately 200 villagers are trapped, relying on communal porridge for sustenance while authorities mobilize drones to air-drop supplies.

According to a report by local media Yangcheng Evening News on the 7th, a breach appeared in the dam of the Liulan Reservoir in Hengzhou, Nanning, Guangxi on the 6th. Turbid yellow muddy water instantly poured out, engulfing several downstream villages. Dutian Village, located immediately next to the reservoir, bore the brunt of the disaster and suffered severe damage.

The only bridge connecting Dutian Village to the outside world was destroyed by the floodwaters, leaving parts of the area as "isolated islands" with no roads, internet, or electricity, trapping about 200 villagers.

One villager recalled that the rain was torrential in the early morning of the 6th. "In the morning, my father saw the water flowing rapidly and realized the situation was bad. He quickly urged the whole family to run to the back mountain. We didn't expect the dam to actually collapse." He described how the water level rose extremely quickly with strong impact, submerging the second floors of many houses in less than half an hour.

While trapped, villagers spontaneously cooked porridge to help each other. One villager said that many villagers had not eaten for most of the day. After the floodwaters receded, they returned to their homes to find rice that had not been soaked, gathered it together, cooked porridge, and prioritized distribution to the elderly and children in the village.

Local authorities have urgently mobilized drone volunteers to air-drop supplies overnight. Volunteers operating drone cargo services deployed heavy-duty drones with a maximum carrying capacity of 100 kilograms, transporting about 80 kilograms of drinking water and bread per trip. In addition to basic food, essential medicines for special groups such as elderly villagers with high blood pressure were also delivered via drone airdrops.

Furthermore, authorities dispatched multiple excavators into the disaster area to speed up the repair of the washed-out roads and fill in cracks. However, as of the afternoon of the 7th, repairs had not yet been completed.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the Guangxi government stated at a flood control and disaster relief press conference held on the evening of the 7th that four reservoirs, including the Liulan Reservoir and Yunbiao Reservoir in Nanning City, experienced dangers. As of 8 p.m. on the 7th, 112,000 people in the affected areas had been impacted, with 63,000 people urgently evacuated and resettled. Four people died and eight were missing due to the disaster. (Editor: Chou Hui-ying) 1150708

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