Guangzhou, Aug 6:
A rain-triggered landslide struck Dayuan village in Guangzhou’s Baiyun District on Wednesday morning, leaving seven people missing and prompting a large-scale emergency response. The landslide, which occurred around 8:30 a.m., buried multiple homes and trapped 14 people under the debris, local authorities said.
According to the district’s emergency management bureau, as of noon, rescuers had successfully pulled out seven individuals who were found in stable condition. The search continues for the remaining seven victims, with rescue operations ongoing into the evening.
A coordinated on-site rescue headquarters has been established to oversee relief efforts, medical treatment, and the evacuation of residents. By 5 p.m., a total of 996 residents had been safely evacuated from the affected area.
The Baiyun District has mobilized 607 rescue workers and deployed 733 units of equipment, including excavators, life detectors, and emergency communication vehicles. Authorities have also dispatched 2,200 emergency and epidemic prevention supplies, such as tents, raincoats, and medical kits, to support displaced residents and rescue crews.
The landslide follows days of relentless rain in Guangdong Province, which has triggered widespread flooding and transport disruption. On Tuesday alone, torrential downpours forced the closure of three expressway segments, six sections of national or provincial highways, and 25 rural roads, according to the provincial transport department.
In response to worsening conditions, Guangdong raised its emergency flood response to Level II—the second-highest tier in China’s four-level alert system—at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Elsewhere in the region, flood levels have surpassed warning thresholds in 16 rivers across Guangdong. In the neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Nankang River and Wulai River have reached their highest flood levels since 2017 and 2018, respectively, prompting heightened monitoring by regional hydrology centers.