Tech-powered rescues save lives as floods hit south China

Typhoon Maysak, the 10th typhoon of the year and the first to make landfall in China in 2026, struck the southern island province of Hainan on July 3 before moving inland and unleashing torrential rains across south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Record-breaking rainfall triggered severe flooding in multiple cities. More than 375,000 people in Guangxi have been affected, and at least 130,000 residents have been evacuated from flooded areas.

Drones save stranded residents

In the hardest-hit Yunbiao Town, Hengzhou County, Guangxi, a massive flood left more than 15,000 residents stranded and the entire town submerged, making roads impassable for traditional ground rescue vehicles. A drone rescue team drove over 1,700 kilometers and traveled 18 hours to reach the disaster zone.

The team deployed two heavy-lift drones, each with a wingspan of over three meters and a carrying capacity of 100 kilograms, along with three smaller reconnaissance drones. Using drones equipped with ropes, the team successfully hoisted two stranded residents off a flooded rooftop and transported them to safety via inflatable boats.

Wing Loong UAVs restore emergency communications

At the request of Guangxi authorities, the Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched two Wing Loong unmanned aerial vehicles to provide emergency communications support in disaster-hit areas. 

The UAVs flew continuously over the affected regions, restoring mobile phone connectivity for residents cut off by the floods. Alongside the drone deployment, the ministry also sent 1,372 personnel from the China National Comprehensive Fire and Rescue Team, 270 vehicles and 140 boats, as well as 350 specialized rescuers with equipment. The central government allocated 100 million yuan ($14.7 million) for post-disaster emergency restoration.

AI-powered forecasting and smart grid monitoring

Technology has also played a crucial role in early warning and infrastructure protection. In Guangxi, the China Southern Power Grid deployed an integrated "power + meteorology + AI" analysis system to track Typhoon Maysak's path and rainfall distribution in real time, enabling 24-hour monitoring and early warnings for critical power infrastructure. The system dynamically assessed the scope of disaster impact and precisely delivered operation and maintenance strategies to field teams.

As the storm continues to bring heavy rainfall to parts of southern and central China, authorities are closely monitoring river levels and flood risks. The Ministry of Water Resources is using satellites, ground-based radar and digital simulation models to track rain clouds and predict how floodwaters may spread, helping identify high-risk areas earlier and issue faster warnings.