Catastrophic floods in northwest China result in fatalities climbing to 13
China Faces Alarming Surge in Extreme Weather Events
China is currently grappling with an alarming surge in extreme weather events, primarily severe flooding and heatwaves, affecting northern and central regions. The country, which is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, has been hit hard, with heavy human and economic tolls linked to ongoing climate change effects.
In the north, heavy rain in Beijing last month resulted in the death of 44 people, with the capital's rural suburbs hardest hit. Another eight people were killed in a landslide in nearby Hebei province. The initial death toll was 13, but it later increased. Mud and water torrents have also hit Gansu province, trapping 4,000 people in the Xinglong area according to state media.
The situation is complex due to mud, rough roads, and cut telephone lines and electricity. At least 30 people are now reported missing, and hundreds have been rescued, with thousands more evacuated. Torrential downpours have also affected the south of China, resulting in tens of thousands of evacuations across Guangdong.
In addition to northern China, southern provinces like Guangdong have faced torrential rain causing casualties, while cities like Shanghai have evacuated large populations due to storms. Central China has endured persistent heatwaves combined with intense rainfall events, reflecting a complex pattern of extreme weather.
Scientists warn that the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events will increase as the planet continues to heat up due to fossil fuel emissions. China, despite being the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, is also a global renewable energy powerhouse.
Beijing's top economic planner has allocated 100 million yuan ($14 million) towards disaster relief in Gansu. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an "utmost effort" in rescuing missing people. In a bid to combat climate change, China has pledged to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
Regarding Gansu province specifically, no direct recent reports emerged from the provided sources about extreme flooding in Gansu, though it is frequently affected by such events and may well be impacted in the broader pattern of regional extreme weather.
Authorities in several provinces, including Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, and Chongqing, have activated a flood response plan due to a yellow alert for torrential rains. Heavy rain is pushing garbage into roads in the affected areas, making rescue and evacuation efforts more challenging.
Heavy rain since late July 2025 has caused at least 60 deaths and many missing persons. Beijing experienced a "year's worth of rain in less than a week," with rainfall in some districts surpassing monthly and even annual averages, leading to flash floods in Miyun, Huairou, and Yanqing districts. The heavy rains also triggered landslides and destruction in Hebei, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia, where a flash flood killed 8 people and left several missing as recently as August 17, 2025. Areas such as Bayannur in Inner Mongolia, vital for grain and oil production, have been severely affected by riverbank bursts and flooding.
This article is copyrighted by AFP in 2025.
- The surge in extreme weather events in China, including severe flooding and heatwaves, has led environmental scientists to predict an increase in the intensity and frequency of such events due to ongoing climate change.
- In an effort to combat climate change and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather, China has pledged to peak its carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, while simultaneously being a global leader in renewable energy.
