China dam collapse: hundreds evacuated after typhoon rains breach Guangxi reservoir

Floodwater breached a reservoir in southern China and threatened others, as heavy rain pounded the region, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people in the area.

Chinese authorities urged caution and ordered rescue and evacuation operations, with Typhoon Maysak expected to bring more bad weather.

On Monday, breaches and flooding were spotted at multiple reservoirs in the city of Hengzhou and Binyang county in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, according to a statement from Guangxi’s capital, Nanning.

Officials established rescue-and-evacuation teams and warned residents to stay away from the affected regions, rivers and low areas.

At about 11am on Monday, two sections of the dam at Liulan Reservoir in Hengzhou in Guangxi gave way.

The collapse created a 50-metre (164-foot) gap, sending a massive torrent of water rushing downstream, the China Business Network reported.