Widespread flooding intensified across southern China on Tuesday as Typhoon Narra brought heavy rainfall to the region, leading to the relocation of tens of thousands of residents. In the Guangxi region, water levels in the city of Chongzuo surpassed a previous record set in 2008, resulting in the evacuation of more than 15,000 people. While Narra made landfall as a tropical storm in Hainan province on Tuesday evening, a second storm, Typhoon Saudel, is currently moving toward Japan and Taiwan.
The flooding in China follows several days of heavy rain as Narra lingered over the Beibu Gulf before moving inland. In Chongzuo, river water overflowed into urban areas, reaching the rooftops of some buildings and affecting power lines. Local authorities issued an order on Monday for all businesses and tourist operations to close and instructed evacuated residents to remain away from high-risk zones. State media reports that torrential rain is expected to continue through Wednesday in the provinces of Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, and Fujian, as well as parts of Vietnam.
In Taiwan, government officials reported one death and four missing individuals due to a separate tropical depression that caused flooding in Tainan and Kaohsiung. Between Sunday and Tuesday, Kaohsiung recorded nearly one meter (3.9 feet) of rain. Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued warnings for the southwestern islands of Okinawa as Typhoon Saudel approaches, forecasting destructive wind gusts and high seas. Saudel is expected to pass north of Taiwan between Thursday and Friday before potentially hitting the coast of China's Fujian province.
In the immediate term, affected households will experience power disruptions and loss of access to homes and shops that have been submerged. Those relocated will notice a total suspension of normal daily routines as they remain in temporary shelters, with authorities specifically warning against returning to high-risk areas until conditions stabilize. In Taiwan, the nearly 40 inches of rain over a three-day period has already resulted in fatalities and missing persons reports. The scale of the rainfall in Kaohsiung is notable because it surpassed the levels of a 2009 storm that caused $3 billion in damages, suggesting potential for significant regional economic strain.
The knock-on effects include continued risks of landslides and further flooding as the ground remains saturated while additional rain is forecast for Fujian, Guangdong, and parts of Vietnam through Wednesday. The arrival of Typhoon Saudel later this week presents a secondary challenge for Japan’s Okinawa prefecture and northern Taiwan, where residents can expect deteriorating sea conditions and strong winds. What happens next depends on the track of Typhoon Saudel; it is forecast to pass north of Taiwan Thursday and Friday, though its intensity is expected to weaken, before it is projected to hit the Fujian coast by Friday morning.