Flooding from Typhoon Narra forces evacuations across Guangxi

Typhoon Narra has submerged homes and forced evacuations in southern China. Authorities have relocated 54,000 people in Guangxi, including more than 15,000 in Chongzuo, where flood waters surpassed a record set in 2008.

Chongzuo water levels overtake the previous record

In Chongzuo, river water overflowed into the city, reaching the rooftops of some buildings and power lines. The Guangxi city is known for its waterfalls and karst limestone mountains.

A notice issued by Chongzuo authorities ordered all businesses and tourist operations to stop on Monday. It also told evacuated residents not to return to high-risk areas.

Heavy rain is expected to continue

Narra made landfall as a tropical storm on Tuesday evening on Hainan after lingering over the Beibu Gulf for several days. The storm brought heavy rain to Guangxi, Hainan and Guangdong.

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State media forecast torrential rain through Wednesday in parts of Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan and Fujian, as well as heavy rain across parts of Vietnam and southern China.

Saudel brings a separate risk to Taiwan and Japan

Medium-strength Typhoon Saudel was moving towards southern Japan and northern Taiwan. Japan’s weather agency warned of destructive winds and high seas near the south-western islands of Okinawa prefecture.

Taiwan reported one death and four people missing after a separate tropical depression caused flooding in Tainan and Kaohsiung. Almost 1 metre (3.9 feet) of rain fell in Kaohsiung from Sunday to Tuesday, exceeding the rainfall recorded during 2009’s Typhoon Morakot, according to the government.

Saudel is expected to pass north of Taiwan from late Thursday into Friday, with its intensity forecast to weaken gradually. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said the timing and extent of the rainfall remained uncertain; the storm is forecast to reach Fujian from late Thursday to early Friday.

What happens next

Heavy rain is expected across parts of southern China through Wednesday. Authorities and weather agencies are also monitoring Saudel as it approaches Taiwan, Japan and Fujian later in the week.