The Karst region is a typical ecologically vulnerable area. In recent years, influenced by global climate change, short-term droughts have frequently occurred in the Karst region. The study of vegetation response patterns under drought stress holds significant importance for ecological environment restoration and management in the Karst region. An improved vegetation condition index (VCI_NDVIRE) was created based on the red-edge band of the wide field of view (WFV) imagery from the high-resolution satellite GF6. It was utilized to monitor vegetation responses to short-term droughts. Additionally, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) was computed using monthly precipitation data to identify occurrences of drought. Taking the typical Karst region of Guilin as an example from September to December 2022, the focus of the study was on vegetation responses to short-term drought. The results indicate that in the central, southern, and northeastern regions of Guilin, vegetation exhibits the highest sensitivity to drought due to poor soil water retention capacity and a lack of irrigation facilities. In the study area, vegetation underwent continuous drought, reaching a critical point, leading to a sustained and irreversible withering response, taking approximately two months. Different types of vegetation showed varying degrees of response to short-term drought, with cropland being more sensitive than grassland and woodland. GF6-WFV data demonstrated excellent performance in monitoring short-term droughts, providing crucial references for ecological protection and management in the Karst region.