Devastating floods triggered by relentless torrential rains have killed 39 people and left nine others missing in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chinese authorities confirmed on Thursday, 16 July 2026. The death toll includes casualties from a severe reservoir breach in the regional capital, Nanning, disclosed at a flood control and disaster relief press conference held at noon on Thursday.

Reservoir Breach in Nanning

The reservoir failure in Nanning has emerged as one of the most lethal single events within the broader flooding crisis. Authorities did not specify the name of the reservoir, but confirmed it contributed directly to the overall casualty count. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing, with the full scale of damage still being assessed.

Jilin Province on High Alert

Compounding the national crisis, authorities on Tuesday upgraded the emergency flood response for Jilin Province in northeast China from Level IV to Level III, as heavy rainfall drove severe inundation across the region. Typhoon Bavi has been identified as a key driver, bringing persistent downpours that caused the Jilin section of the Songhua River to record its No. 1 flood of 2026.

The Meihe River, a tributary of the Huifa River, has experienced its largest flood since hydrological records began. The entire Huifa River is expected to rise above warning levels, while risks remain elevated for river flooding, mountain torrents, geological disasters, emergencies at small and medium-sized reservoirs, and urban waterlogging. Officials described the flood control situation as 'grave and complex.'

Yellow River Tributaries Under Threat

China's Ministry of Water Resources on Tuesday forecast moderate to heavy rain from Tuesday to Friday across eastern parts of northwest China, with rainstorms expected in parts of central Shaanxi Province and central and southern Shanxi Province. Water levels are projected to rise in sections of the middle reaches of the Yellow River and several tributaries, including the Weihe, Fenhe, and Qinhe rivers.

Some small and medium-sized rivers in rain-affected areas may record floods exceeding warning levels, the ministry cautioned. Water resources authorities in Shanxi and Shaanxi, along with relevant river basin management agencies, have been directed to strengthen monitoring, forecasting, and early warning systems, and to ensure the safety of reservoirs and silt dams.

Scale and Context

China's summer flood season, driven by the annual monsoon, has historically caused widespread casualties and economic damage. The simultaneous crises in Guangxi and Jilin — geographically distant regions — underscore the scale of this year's flood threat. The involvement of Typhoon Bavi adds a cyclonic dimension that has intensified rainfall far inland. With the Yellow River basin now also at risk, authorities face a multi-front flood management challenge in the days ahead.