Torrential rain sweeps across China, prompting a Level IV Emergency Flood Response in numerous regions
Heavy Floods Strike Multiple Provinces in China
China is currently grappling with heavy floods affecting several provinces, prompting emergency measures and rescue operations. The latest Level-IV emergency flood-control response has been activated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi in the south, and Hunan in central China due to forecasted heavy to extreme rainfall from August 13 to 15, 2025.
The floods have already taken a toll in northwest China, particularly Gansu Province, where mountain torrents have resulted in the deaths of 10 people and left 33 missing as of Friday afternoon. Relief operations are underway in Gansu, with 54 hotels requisitioned and 14 centralised shelters set up to accommodate nearly 10,000 people displaced by the floods.
The heaviest rainfall hit the Xinglong Mountain area in Yuzhong County, severely damaging several villages. Local authorities are working urgently to repair damaged roads in the area.
Forecasts predict heavy to torrential rainfall between August 9 and 11 in multiple areas, including Sichuan, Chongqing, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Gansu, and Shaanxi. Smaller rivers in these regions could face floods above warning levels. Water levels are also expected to rise in the Huaihe River and its southern tributaries, such as the Huanghe, Shiguan, and Peihe rivers. Some areas could experience extreme downpours, which may cause water levels to surge in the Yangtze River and its tributaries, including the Minjiang, Tuojiang, and Jialing rivers.
Li Guoying, Deputy Commander of the National Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and Minister of Water Resources, has called for stronger monitoring, early warnings, and strict implementation of prevention measures to protect lives and property. The Ministry of Water Resources has warned of potential flooding in multiple areas, including Sichuan, Chongqing, southern and central Anhui, southern and central Henan, eastern Hubei, southern Gansu, and southern Shaanxi.
Emergency measures taken by the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Water Resources include initiating Level-IV flood-control emergency responses, dispatching work teams to affected provinces for guidance on typhoon preparedness, rainstorm response, and flood prevention. Local authorities have been urged to enhance real-time monitoring of rainfall and river conditions, issue timely public alerts, and strengthen urban waterlogging prevention measures.
Working groups from the ministry have already arrived in Gansu Province to assess flash flood damage and plan further disaster prevention steps. A special meeting was held by the Ministry of Water Resources on Saturday morning to coordinate flood-control efforts in response to the heavy rain.
The Level-IV response is the lowest tier in China's four-level emergency response system, indicating active but controlled flood risk management measures. Officials have stressed the need for continuous rainfall monitoring, timely release of warning information, precise scheduling of water projects, and relocation of residents from high-risk areas in advance.
The emergency response was activated at 3:00 pm (local time) on Saturday, August 7. Work teams have been dispatched to Anhui and Hubei to assist local authorities in flood prevention. China's Ministry of Water Resources has initiated a Level IV flood-control emergency response in Henan, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, and Shaanxi, and is maintaining the same response for Anhui and Gansu provinces.
[1] Source: Xinhua News [2] Source: CNN [3] Source: China Meteorological Administration [4] Source: People's Daily [5] Source: China Meteorological Administration
- In the realm of environmental science, the Climate-Change department might analyze the impact of heavy rainfall patterns, such as those causing the current floods in China, on future weather patterns.
- Amidst the political arena, discussions regarding disaster response and emergency funding for flood-prone regions, like the affected provinces in China, could be a focal point in the general news.
- The Crime-and-Justice division might investigate cases of accidents and losses of life or property due to the floods, especially in high-risk regions like Yuzhong County in the Xinglong Mountain area. Accurate and timely reporting of such incidents is crucial for both local and national authorities.
