Flooding

Guangzhou’s RMB 400 Million Infrastructure Upgrade Goes Down the Drain

Posted: 06/26/2014 8:55 am

guangzhou rain flood heavy raining bad weather

A car was submerged and trapped by floods in the middle of the road in Guangzhou.

The Guangzhou government is under fire after some districts in the city were unable to handle torrential downpours despite a RMB 400 million upgrade to the city’s drainage systems, leaving the city’s transportation system partially paralyzed after this week’s heavy rainfall, New Express Daily reported.

[Photos] Guangzhou Flooded from Heavy Rainfall

Many trains from Guangzhou to Changsha were operating under reduced speeds while 26 departures were suspended on June 24 after rainstorms pelted the city since Sunday. The city issued a red alert for torrential rains on June 23. In the city’s Haizhu District, a rainfall of 176.2mm was recorded, the highest in the city.

Water seeps into a school’s auditorium.

The Baiyunshan area around the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and the Nanhu Street area in Haizhu District were both heavily flooded even though the local water bureau had pumped in RMB 11.69 million to upgrade the underground sewer system in 2011. Construction was completed in October 2012.

According to the bureau, the drainage problem on Congyun Road, South Road and Jiade Bus Station around the university was solved after the project. However, many buildings on the university campus were flooded by water after the Sunday rainfall, the report said.

The same thing happened to Nanhua Street in Haizhu District after the government allocated RMB 3.1 million to fix the sewer system. After last weekend’s rainstorm, the clogged waters reached knee-high level in some low-lying areas, the report said.

All told, Guangzhou has spent a total of RMB 400 million on improving its drainage system in the last three years, but images of the city after the rain showed cars, buses, parking lots and residents mired in deep water.

Taiwan scholar You Yingtai famously proposed for a country to be judged as developed or not by its drainage system. The same can go for a city. If a city is flooded with standing water and the shop’s tea pot is floating in the middle of the road and used for catching fish, this is probably not a developing city.

Here, one’s trousers are wet without being muddy; road traffic is slow but not at a standstill. By this measure, Guangzhou, an export-driven powerhouse, is still a developing city, trying to to wade out of the flood waters.

[Photos] Guangzhou Flooded (Again) from Heavy Rainfall [UPDATED]

Posted: 06/24/2014 11:26 am

Widespread flooding has been reported throughout Guangzhou after a red alert for a torrential rainfall was issued yesterday.

There was a rapid progression of the intensity of the precipitation, reports MSN. A yellow alert that was posted around 6pm by the Guangzhou Meteological Society was quickly upgraded to orange within an hour, and then became red at 7:53pm, Guangzhou’s first of the year.

The red alert was taken down at 10:22pm.

Heavy rain hit many parts of the city, including the Districts of Yuexiu, Liwan and Haizhu. Roads reported flooded include Guangzhou Boulevard North, Zhongshan Eight Road, and Tongxin Road.

The Haizhu weather station recorded a rainfall yesterday of 176.2mm, the highest in the city. Second-highest was Liwan District with a recorded rainfall of 137.1mm, and then
Yuexiu District with 136.9mm.

Flooding was reported to have hit dormitories and the cafeteria at Guangdong Foreign Languages and Trade University (Baiyunshan Campus), leaving some 60 students without a place to stay. As well, flood struck Guangzhou Railway Station and forced the cancellation of 18 trains.

guangzhou raining flooding

Heavy Rains Flood Streets in Guangzhou and Zhanjiang [UPDATE]

Posted: 06/11/2014 12:48 pm

Heavy rains this morning caused flooding in Guangzhou and Zhanjiang, leading to many traffic disruptions.

Guangzhou Live has reported several Guangzhou roads having been submerged:

The Inner Ring Road B Line by Martyr Road has been flooded with all traffic stopped in the area.
Both directions of traffic have been flooded at the Shahe Overpass at Inner Ring Road by Lianquan Road where traffic is moving very slow.
Water is slowly creeping from west to east at the Inner Ring Road by the Luhu Road exit
The area underneath the Tianshou Road Railway Bridge has been flooded on both sides
Dongfeng Road under Nonglin, Martyr Middle Road opposite the Huanghua Playhouse, and the area underneath the Tongxin Road Railway Bridge have all had both sides of their roads flooded

Meanwhile in Zhanjiang, heavy rainfall from 6am to 9am in Xiashan District has led to flooding on Haijing Road where several cars have stalled, reports Yangcheng Evening Report.

UPDATE 4:50pm June 11: This afternoon the districts of Yuexiu, Tianhe, Zhuhai, Liwan all received rain in excess of 100mm, reports the Guangzhou Daily.

Here are some photos taken of flooding from around the city:

Photos: Guangzhou Live via Weibo, Yangcheng Evening Report via Weibo, Guangzhou Daily via Weibo

Tagged: Bad WeatherFloodingHeavy RainfallTrafficZhanjiang

“Storm of the Century” Batters Rural Guangdong With Flooding and Landslides [PICTORIAL]

Posted: 05/26/2014 12:00 pm

Dubbed the “storm of the century”, the latest in a series of storms that has battered Guangdong Province since the beginning of May has caused fatalities and widespread damage from flooding, landslides, and sinkholes.

This is a series of pictures from Yangcheng Evening Report and Xinhua that focuses on the hardest-hit areas of Conghua and Zengcheng as well as the Township of Dubu and Qigong, and the village of Jiangdong.

guangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghua guangdong rural flooding landslides Photos: Yangcheng Evening Report, Xinhua/News.cn via cri.cn

Tagged: Bad WeatherConghuadisasterFloodingheavy rainsLandslidessinkholesZengcheng District

15 Dead in Latest Storms to Batter Guangdong, Five Killed in Guangzhou

Posted: 05/26/2014 8:24 am

The latest in a series of rainstorms to batter Guangdong this May has killed fifteen people and caused the disappearance of five, reports the Global Times.

A total of 800,000 people throughout Guangdong have been affected by the rain, with a total accumulated precipitation in the City of Shanwei recorded at 628mm.

Sixteen major roadways have been closed due to the rain throughout the province.

In Guangzhou alone, four people have died and one is missing from the flooding on May 23, reports Guangzhou Daily Report. Districts particularly affected by the storm include Zengcheng, Conghua, Baiyun, and Huadu. The estimated loss to the local economy is RMB 700 million; 6,810 houses have collapsed and 206,000 mu of croplands have been destroyed. 220,500 Guangzhou residents have been adversely affected by the storm with some 42,500 people evacuated.

A 21 year-old student of the Nanfang College at Sun Yat-sen University named Pan Jinxiang is one of the reported fatalities. Pan fell into one of the many sinkholes and drowned after the flooding receded. All students were reportedly evacuated on Friday. Classmates say Pan may have drowned near construction performed by a real estate developer.

Other Guangdong urban centers hit by the storm include Zhaoqing and Qingyuan. Storm-ravaged rural areas include some 30 townships. Disaster relief and anti-flooding measures have been initiated by the three levels of local government.

In Zengcheng, the 80 year-old Zeng River Bridge (also known as the East Gate Bridge) was destroyed by rising flood waters on May 23 at 7:40pm. Built in 1932, the Zeng River Bridge had been destroyed twice before, and rebuilt three times since. A driver named Zheng Guoqing blocked access to the bridge and tried to warn other people from crossing when he felt it buckling underneath his feet. Minutes later, the center of the bridge collapsed.

The forecast for Guangzhou on Monday is clear skies and warm temperatures with some areas experiencing scattered showers.

The threat of flooding on Monday is focused in northern Guangdong as well as Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces. However, Guangzhou will again be targeted by the storms on Tuesday and Wednesday, mostly in the afternoon, reports Accuweather. Due to the ground already saturated with rainwater, more flash flooding is expected to return.

guangzhou rain flooding landslides zengcheng conghua Photos: Southern Metropolis Report via Weibo, Guangzhou Daily Report via Weibo, Guangzhou Daily via Weibo, Yangcheng Evening Report (via Weibo), Guangzhou PSB via Weibo, Shenzhen Traffic Police via Weibo

Tagged: Bad WeatherBaiyunConghuadeath tolldisasterFloodingHeavy RainfallHuadu DistrictLandslidesQingyuanZengcheng Districtzhaoqing

Eight Dead as Guangzhou Pulverized by Flooding and Landslides [PICTORIAL, UPDATED]

Posted: 05/23/2014 5:00 pm

UPDATE 2, 8:48pm May 23, 2014: Six people are confirmed dead after getting caught in a rain-triggered landslide in the village of Longshi, Heping County, Guangdong. Initially, the incident left two dead, two injured and three missing; however, three victims recovered today had passed away as had a victim taken to hospital.

Meanwhile, two people are reported dead in Huaiji, Zhaoqing in a landslide that also injured three children.

UPDATE 1, 5:20pm May 23, 2014: As of 4:49pm, delays have been reported at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport lasting at least an hour for 64 flights; additionally, 14 outbound flights and 19 inbound flights have been cancelled. As such, an airport blue alert has been issued. The customer hotline for Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport: 020-3606 6999

***

A torrential rainfall has made Conghua District in the City of Guangzhou a disaster zone as a red alert weather warning continues to be in effect for the area as of 2:12pm today.

Wenquan and Liangkou County are among the worst hit areas by the storm with some residents reporting water and electricity have been cut off. The villages of Daxi, Shiling, and Xitou are said to be particularly affected, including Wenquan Middle School.

Many roads have been blocked as flooding and landslides have occurred throughout the area. A landslide is reported to be obstructing a 1 km stretch of the #355 County Road from Jinyezi Hotel in Zengcheng to South Kunshan with both lanes blocked. Elsewhere, flood waters reported as high as 80cm are blocking major six lane roads.

Nanfang College at Sun Yat-sen University has been hit particularly hard by the rainstorm. Several buildings and streets of the campus have been by flooded. Two sinkholes have been reported to have opened up in the school, one taking place in front of dormitory H24. Pictures depict the flooding of dormitories. University students were initially told to remain where they were and wait for flooding to subside, but have now all been evacuated.

guangzhou conghua rainstorm rain flooding landslide flood

This is what the storm looked like yesterday afternoon in Guangzhou, bringing the night to the day:

And here’s a view from Dongguan:

Photos: Guangzhou Daily Report via Weibo (2), People’s Needs of Zhongda Nanfang School Weibo, Guangzhou Conghua Police via Weibo, Nanfang Report via Weibo, Yangcheng Evening Report via Weibo and Jinyang Network, Beautiful Flowers of Dongguan via Weibo

Tagged: ConghuadisasterFloodingHeavy RainfallLandslidesSun Yat Sen University

Insane Photos of Shenzhen Flooding, Yellow Alert Issued in Guangzhou

Posted: 05/21/2014 11:19 am

Blue and yellow weather alerts have been issued for the city of Guangzhou for Wednesday afternoon after heavy rain battered Shenzhen on Tuesday.

Though the red alert weather warning was lifted at 4:30pm, flooding had occurred throughout the city of Shenzhen. Cars tried to pass through submerged roads as residents waded through flood water higher than their knees.

In Leizhou, a levee was reported to have burst early this morning.

Rain is expected to continue to fall on Guangdong Province for the remainder of the week.

Here’s a gallery of pictures taken yesterday of the flooding in Shenzhen:

shenzhen flooding rain rainstorm guangdong blocked roads

And here are some pictures from Baihuatong Road in Guangming: shenzhen flooding rain rainstorm guangdong blocked roads

It would be remiss not to mention the rainbow that finally appeared yesterday on “520″, the month and day imbued with the numerical symbology of “I like you”:

Rain Continues to Fall Mercilessly on the PRD, Shenzhen Issues Red Alert [UPDATE]

Posted: 05/20/2014 2:21 pm

UPDATE 2: 4:22pm, May 2014. A post from the Shenzhen police Weibo tells us the areas facing the highest risk from the storm are the districts of Bao’an, Longgang, Longhua, Guangming New Town, Pingshan New Town, and Dapeng New Town. Police tells everyone to be vigilant and exert caution

UPDATE 1: 3:06pm, May 20, 2014. Shenzhen has just issued a red alert weather warning. As a result, protocol states that middle and elementary schools are now closed, workers are discouraged from going to work, and delays are to be expected for public transportation.

***

As Dongguan issued a rain alert earlier today and the forecast calls for precipitation to last until Friday, the mounting costs of a this past week’s torrential rain is estimated at RMB 205 million and at least two fatalities.

The Guangdong Provincial Ministry of Civil Affairs has reported the storm and flooding is responsible for two deaths and one missing person. The victims include an eight-month pregnant woman who was washed away in a landslide when it destroyed her home in Pingshan New District, Shenzhen.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs reports the rain has affected a large area of Guangdong since it began on May 15 including the six cities of Shenzhen, Shaoguan, Meizhou, Shanwei, Qingyuan, and Yunfu. Twelve counties and 52 villages have also been hit by flooding of varying degrees.

As of 5pm on May 19, Guangdong had a total of 100,200 people affected by the storm, in which 17,800 people were evacuated. 131 buildings have collapsed, and 6,300 square kilometers of crops have been affected.

Meanwhile, Guangzhou was hit hard with rain on Sunday before noon when 50mm fell within an hour. An accumulation of 400mm was recorded in Tianhe District and caused a 3km-long traffic jam.

The rain in Huizhou has affected some 10,000 residents and is said to have caused eight landslides. 428mm of precipitation was recorded in the 24 hour period before 6am on May 18.

A weather forecast for Guangzhou says that rain will continue everyday this week until Friday, but that lightning will cease after today.

Photo: Al Jazeera, Shenzhen Police via Weibo

Tagged: Bad WeatherFloodingHeavy RainfallHuizhouMeizhouQingyuanrainShanweiShaoguanYunfu

Shenzhen Woman, 8 Months Pregnant, The Sixth Person to Die in Recent PRD Flooding

Posted: 05/19/2014 10:35 am

shenzhen pregnant woman flooding rain storm

The heavy rains and flooding battering the Pearl River Delta and the east and north of Guangdong Province has taken another fatality, bringing the total number of victims to six.

Early on May 17, a landslide caused the destruction of a house in Taiyang Village, Shijing Community and swept away and killed a woman who was eight months pregnant.

From 1am until 4am, the total precipitation in Pingshan District, Shenzhen was recorded as 261mm. A local tributary of the Pingshan Creek was already swollen from days of rain by that time, leading to the landslide.

The victim, 21 years-old and surnamed Zhong, lived in a house located next to Pingshan Creek that was destroyed by the landslide. Her father said he held on as tightly as he could until his own arm was injured, while the husband had said that there was no way to help her because the torrent was “too strong”.

Zhong’s body was found later that day at 5pm at a central drainage pipe.

The recent rain that has hit the cities of Huizhou, Shenzhen, Shanwei, and Qingyuan
is expected to continue until tomorrow.

Photos: Nanfang Metropolis via Weibo

Tagged: Bad WeatherDeathFloodingheavy rainPingshan New ZonePregnant Womanvictim

Huizhou Floods After 4 Hours of Torrential Rain [PHOTOS]

Posted: 05/16/2014 8:53 pm

huizhou flooding rain fall guangdong Heavy rain in the city of Huizhou caused flooding throughout the city after four hours of continued precipitation this afternoon, reported Guangzhou Daily.

Cars at E’ling Bridge were reported to be submerged up to their rooftops as traffic and public transportation were affected.

Firefighters attempting to pump out flooded areas were no match for the influx of rain water. Many parents took children out of school as a precaution.

Photos: Guangzhou Daily via Weibo, Shenzhen Police via Weibo