Super Typhoon Bavi threatens to deepen China’s flood crisis

The National Climate Center forecasts up to six typhoons in the Northwest Pacific and South China Sea this July, far exceeding the historical average of 3.8. Current models suggest three of these could make landfall in China, bringing rainfall levels that threaten to collapse already strained infrastructure. In Guangxi, the recent failure of reservoirs near the city of Hengzhou left hundreds stranded as floodwaters surged into homes, forcing residents to seek refuge on rooftops. Local authorities confirmed at least six deaths, though rescue operations remain ongoing.

Benjamin Horton of City University of Hong Kong warns that the rapid succession of these events leaves vulnerable communities almost no window for recovery. The shifting of storm tracks westward, driven by El Niño, places China’s coastline at heightened risk for the remainder of the season. As these atmospheric conditions amplify the frequency of extreme weather, the 70-billion-yuan canal project in Hengzhou faces an early test of its structural integrity against the mounting threat of landslides and widespread agricultural loss.