Flooding in northern China claims lives of nine individuals, reports state news
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Northern China has been hit by a series of devastating flash floods and landslides over the past month, resulting in numerous casualties and widespread damage. The most affected regions include Gansu Province, Beijing and its surrounding areas, and northwestern China.
In early August, deadly flash floods struck Gansu Province, particularly Yuzhong county. Torrential rain caused at least 13 deaths and left 30 people missing. Over 4,000 residents were stranded, and nearly 10,000 were relocated. The region received 195 mm of rainfall in less than 24 hours, which is more than half its annual average. The loose loess soil in the region made it particularly vulnerable to flooding and landslides. President Xi Jinping ordered all-out rescue efforts, prioritizing saving lives and restoring infrastructure. The government allocated 100 million yuan for Gansu rescue operations and over 6 billion yuan for national disaster relief since April.
Late July saw northern China experience an intense six-day rainfall event, dropping about 40% of Beijing's annual average rainfall. This caused widespread flooding and landslides, claiming at least 60 lives in northern China overall, with 30 deaths reported in Beijing alone. The Miyun Reservoir had its largest inflow since 1959, triggering flood responses. In the neighboring province of Hebei, four deaths were reported from landslides, and eight people remain missing.
Northwestern China was also affected by flash floods in early August, causing at least 10 deaths and 33 people to go missing. The affected districts include Yanqing, Huaro, and Mune. Flooding cut off roads, caused landslides damaging homes and shops, and resulted in power outages affecting 130 villages.
The primary cause of these flash floods has been extreme and unusually intense rainfalls, with "a year’s worth of rain falling in less than a week" in some places. Climate change is linked to the increased frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events. Geographical factors such as loose soil in Gansu and Beijing’s topography amplified flood impacts.
As of now, around 700 rescue workers are searching for three missing persons. One person has been rescued so far. Experts blame climate change for making weather events worldwide more extreme and frequent. The state news agency Xinhua reported on the incidents in China, but the source of the information for the incidents in Beijing and Hebei is not specified. No further details about the missing persons were provided.
The exact cause of the heavy rains in Beijing and Hebei in late July is not specified. However, it is clear that the recent flash flood incidents in China, primarily occurring in late July and early August 2025, have had significant impacts from extreme rainfall events across northern and northwestern regions. These incidents reflect a severe and widespread flash flood disaster affecting multiple provinces in northern and northwestern China during summer 2025.
- The rescued camper was found near a flooded river in northwestern China, where at least 10 people have tragically died and 33 are still missing due to flash floods.
- State media reported that excessive rainfall, amounting to more than half of the annual average in less than 24 hours, caused a devastating flood in the Yuzhong county of north China's Gansu Province, resulting in the death of 13 people and leaving 30 missing, while general-news sources say that only one has been found as of now.
