Floods Trigger Cross-Provincial Relief Effort

Over the past week, Typhoon Maysak brought heavy rainfall that triggered flooding and other emergencies across parts of China's southwestern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

As news of the disaster reached Hainan Province, which neighbors the region across the Beibu Gulf, several civic organizations—including the Guangxi Association of Commerce in Hainan, the Hainan Volunteer Association, and the Hainan Used Car Industry Association—quickly coordinated a relief operation.

By noon on July 8, two trucks loaded with emergency supplies, accompanied by two support vehicles, departed Hainan and traveled through the night, arriving the following morning in Binyang County of Nanning City, the capital of Guangxi and one of the affected areas.

Affected Residents' Apologies Left Volunteers Moved

Residents in the area greeted the arriving volunteers with repeated words of thanks. But some apologized, leaving many rescuers deeply emotional.

"In the past, when rescue teams came from elsewhere, we could at least slaughter chickens or ducks to welcome them," the residents told volunteers. "This time, the flood swept away everything we owned. We have no electricity or clean water—not even a hot meal or a cup of drinking water to offer you. We're truly sorry we couldn't properly thank you."

The simple but heartfelt apology struck a chord with the rescue team.

"Even now, when I think back to that moment, I still feel a lump in my throat," said Du Jiang, head of the Hainan Volunteer Association.

According to Du, the first shipment of relief supplies was exhausted much faster than expected, as many residents in the affected communities continue to rely on emergency assistance for their daily meals.

The team is now preparing a second batch of relief supplies based on the latest needs assessment, with another convoy expected to depart for Guangxi early this week.

Repair Shop Owner Refuses Payment

For Jiang Jun, a member of the Sanya Blue Sky Rescue Team, one of the most memorable moments came not during the rescue itself, but on the journey to the affected area.

On July 8, a team of 12 volunteers from Sanya joined eight members of the Haikou Xiuying Blue Sky Rescue Team as they headed to Guangxi to assist with flood relief operations.

Late that night, while traveling, the rescue convoy's trailer became detached and was damaged. A local repair shop owner and his family immediately stepped in to fix the vehicle.

When rescuers attempted to pay for the repairs, the owner repeatedly refused to accept any money. Noticing the volunteers' exhaustion after hours on the road, he even offered to cook them noodles.

Before leaving, the rescue team discreetly transferred money to the owner's account as a gesture of thanks.

Restaurant Owner Offers Meal Free of Charge

The following day, the team arrived in Guigang City in the southeast of Guangxi at around 3 a.m. Despite heavy rain, rescuers spent the entire day wading through floodwaters to evacuate stranded residents from schools, residential neighborhoods, and other inundated areas.

Working alongside other emergency response teams, they safely relocated those trapped by the flooding.

"The smiles of relief and the constant words of thanks from people at the evacuation centers made every hardship worthwhile," Jiang recalled.

Another act of generosity and kindness came after the day's work.

Having driven overnight without eating dinner, several team members changed into their own regular clothes and walked to a nearby restaurant after returning to their temporary base.

The restaurant owner overheard the volunteers discussing the next day's rescue plans. He immediately stood up, raised a toast to the team, and repeatedly thanked them for coming to help.

When it came time to pay, however, the owner firmly refused to accept any payment despite the volunteers' insistence.

Rescue Operations Continue as Floodwaters Recede

Even as these moments of kindness unfolded, rescue efforts continued without pause.

On July 10, the two Hainan-based Blue Sky Rescue teams focused on transporting emergency supplies to a local water treatment plant, successfully delivering around 10 metric tons of water treatment chemicals, maintenance equipment, and other essential materials.

Jiang, who has participated in numerous large-scale flood rescue missions, said China's interprovincial emergency response system has become significantly more organized in recent years.

Before departing, the teams coordinated with emergency management authorities in Guangxi and completed the required registration procedures with emergency agencies in Hainan. Upon arrival, they operated under the unified command of local authorities, allowing rescue operations to begin quickly and efficiently.

Drawing on years of experience responding to typhoons and urban flooding in Hainan, the volunteers completed all assigned evacuation and logistics missions within two days.

Ready to Respond Again

With water levels in Guigang continuing to fall, the immediate danger has largely subsided.

The rescue teams have now returned to Hainan, where they will undergo a short period of rest while inspecting and servicing their equipment.

"If we're needed again," Jiang said, "we'll be ready to head out immediately."

Floodwaters may have cut off roads, but they could not sever the bonds of compassion between the people of Guangxi and Hainan.

Relief Effort Draws Support from Across China

Hainan's volunteers were among many responding to the disaster.

Convoys carrying emergency supplies and rescue personnel bearing banners reading "Here for Guangxi" and "Stay Strong, Guangxi" arrived from provinces across China, including Guangdong, Hunan, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Guizhou, and Shandong.

Among them was a team of volunteers from Henan Province in northern China, who drove for 22 hours and covered more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to deliver 6,000 servings of Hui Mian (braised noodles), a traditional Henan soup noodle dish, so that flood-affected residents could have a hot meal.

In another effort, a chef from Sichuan Province in southwestern China and four volunteers established a field kitchen to prepare meals for residents in the disaster zone. Operating at full capacity, the team could serve up to 3,000 people.

The wave of support also extended to charitable donations. As of 3 p.m. on July 11, charitable organisations across Guangxi had received 387 million yuan (about USD 54 million) in donations from the public. By 7 p.m. the same day, the Guangxi Red Cross system had received an additional 120 million yuan (about USD 17 million) in donations.