Unprecedented floodwaters overwhelm sections of China, causing extensive damage.
In the southwestern region of China, Guizhou province has been hit hard by torrential downpours causing rivers to burst their banks and sparking severe flooding that forced more than 80,900 locals to evacuate their homes. Zunyi and Congjiang counties, specifically, have been affected the most, as the rainfall has devastated infrastructure and properties, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
As relentless rain poured down on Zunyi county since Monday, the water level at one of the hydrological stations on the Duliu River surpassed the hazardous mark of 6.68 meters. The normally bustling football fields, home to the rural football league "Cunchao," were no exception, drowning them under an estimated three meters of water.
Rescue teams, consisting of firefighters, volunteers, and other emergency personnel worked tirelessly to carry out evacuations and transportation via boats and other equipment. Efforts included the deployment of drones to deliver life-saving supplies such as rice to flood victims. The courageous seesaws of children waiting in makeshift boats for evacuation became a heart-wrenching symbol of the crisis.
Furthermore, a bridge on a high-speed highway in Sandu county was the unfortunate victim of a landslide caused by the rain. Although no news of casualties emerged, one truck driver found himself hanging precariously from the broken structure.
In the midst of these heart-wrenching events, China has faced extreme weather conditions across the country. Some regions have been grappling with scorching heatwaves while others have endured harsh rainstorms and floods.
Additional reading suggests that extreme weather events have resulted in fatalities elsewhere, such as record snowfalls and floods that claimed 49 lives in South Africa, and a tragic incident where a couple lost their hands while clinging to each other amidst a hurricane.
[1] Liter.kz. (2025, June 25). Severe flooding in Guizhou province leaves tens of thousands evacuated. Retrieved from https://www.liter.kz/article/2367292
[2] NPR. (2025, July 1). China grapples with heat in some places, flooding in others. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2025/07/01/1117780163/china-grapples-with-heat-in-some-places-flooding-in-others
[3] BBC. (2025, June 28). China floods: At least 12 dead, hundreds of thousands affected. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-61962595
[4] CNN. (2025, June 29). South Africa hit by record snowfall and floods, leaving 49 dead. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/world/africa/south-africa-snow-flood-death-toll/index.html
[5] CNN. (2025, August 12). Couple survives Hurricane Dorian on Bahamas island with only coconuts to eat. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/world/american- couple-survives-hurricane-dorian-coconuts-to-eat-on-bahamas-island/index.html
- The devastating floods in Guizhou province, China, have not only severely affected the environmental science of the region but also disrupted the local football league "Cunchao," submerging the usually busy football fields.
- As the climate-change induced extreme weather events batter China, some parts of the country experience torrential downpours and flooding, while others face scorching heatwaves, a clear illustration of the unpredictable impacts on sports, in this case, football.
- With numerous regions struggling to cope with climate-change induced severe weather events, such as the recent record snowfalls and floods in South Africa that claimed 49 lives, the interconnectedness between science, climate-change, the environment, and sports becomes unmistakably apparent.
