A video from southern China showing people how a motorized floating bridge can approach and help residents stranded in floodwater.
Here's what to know
According to footage shared by Sky News (@SkyNews) on TikTok, emergency crews in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region relied on a motorized floating bridge to get to villagers cut off by flooding. The flooding followed Typhoon Narra, which struck southern coastal parts of China.
@skynews A motorised floating bridge has been deployed in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to pick up villagers stranded by flooding. The flooding was caused by Typhoon Narra, which lashed southern coastal regions of China this week. #China #Floods #WorldNews ♬ original sound - Sky News
Rather than waiting for road access to return, the equipment in the video appears to move across the floodwater itself. That kind of access can be crucial during emergencies, helping crews carry out evacuations and bring in food and other basic supplies.
Viewers also reacted strongly to the clip.
One TikTok user said, "The government that loves its people."
Another person added, "Yeah here in the USA we can't even get FEMA out anymore."
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More background
When flooding cuts off smaller communities, the danger often comes from the loss of access that floods create. Residents may be unable to leave safely, and rescuers may have trouble reaching them.
Even when the water is not moving rapidly, roads and infrastructure can become unusable, and rescue efforts can be slowed. And as extreme weather becomes more intense in many places, keeping routes open during disasters is becoming a more urgent problem for communities.
What's being done?
Although tools like this cannot stop extreme weather, they can lessen some of the worst human consequences by speeding access to people at risk.
In the meantime, it's crucial for communities of all sizes everywhere to adopt clean energy. Using energy sources like solar and wind can massively reduce air pollution and make extreme weather events like this one less likely to happen over time.
Where can I learn more?
Flooding and typhoon damage in other parts of China show how quickly storms can knock out communication and infrastructure.
• In Beijing, floods tore through the capital, killing dozens and displacing more than 80,000 residents last year.
• As Typhoon Yagi neared, officials across China ordered that emergency shelters be opened for threatened communities.
• Chinese manufacturer Dongfang Electric said its most powerful wind turbine is designed to withstand intense typhoons.
Extreme weather can disrupt daily life fast, and communities need a variety of solutions to face it. Spreading awareness of these solutions is the first step toward making them more accessible and keeping more people safer during extreme weather.
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