Over 17,000 residents in southwest China’s Yunnan province raced against the clock this week as Typhoon Matmo barreled toward the region, triggering landslides, flooding crops, and damaging roads. Authorities downgraded the storm to a severe tropical storm after its second landfall in Guangxi, but not before it unleashed chaos in Funing County, a mountainous area bordering Guangxi.
💨 Why it matters: The storm’s path highlights growing climate challenges in Asia, where extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. Evacuation efforts, aided by heavy machinery to clear debris, aimed to minimize casualties. Local officials prioritized relocating vulnerable communities as floodwaters surged.
🌧️ On the ground: Social media footage showed rivers overflowing into rice fields and rescue teams navigating collapsed roads. 'This is the worst flooding I’ve seen here,' shared one resident via Weibo, echoing widespread concerns. Meanwhile, emergency crews worked overnight to reinforce dams and divert water.
🔍 What’s next: While Matmo weakens, analysts warn of lingering risks like mudslides. The incident underscores the need for climate-resilient infrastructure—a hot topic among young environmental advocates across Asia.
