China Floods Kill 22 and Force 31,000 Evacuations as Storm Dumps 32 Inches of Rain
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 20
China Floods Kill 22 and Force 31,000 Evacuations as Storm Dumps 32 Inches of Rain
8 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 20
At least 22 people have died in heavy rain and flash floods across southwestern and central China, with tens of thousands driven from their homes as the country’s strongest storm of the year swept through.
Up to 12 inches fell across seven provinces in about five days, while Fangchenggang near Vietnam recorded roughly 32 inches; forecasters said another 8 inches could hit southern areas including Hong Kong.
Hunan was among the hardest-hit areas, with 5 dead, 11 missing and more than 31,000 evacuated, prompting Beijing to activate a national disaster relief response on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, 10 people died in Guangxi after a vehicle plunged into a river, while Guizhou reported 4 deaths and 5 missing and Hubei reported 3 dead and 4 missing.
The flooding submerged streets, farmland, roads and bridges, underscoring the early-season flood risk as China’s rainy period gathers pace from spring into autumn.
As floods and an earthquake hit Guangxi, how is China's disaster system handling two crises at once?
With a water agreement due in June 2026, can China and its neighbors solve cross-border flood crises?
Beyond immediate aid, how can China's manufacturing sector build resilience against increasingly frequent climate shocks?