At least 21 people have been killed after days of torrential rain caused severe flooding across large parts of southern and central China, according to state media and local authorities.
The downpours affected multiple provinces including Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou and Guangdong, where streets, residential areas and transport networks were submerged following unusually intense rainfall.
Chinese authorities said emergency teams had been deployed to several regions as schools, businesses and transport services were suspended in some of the worst-hit areas. State media reported that residents in parts of Hubei were seen wading through knee-deep water, while vehicles were left almost completely submerged.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred in Guangxi, where a pickup truck carrying farm workers was swept into a flooded river during heavy rain. Ten people were confirmed dead, while others remain missing.
Additional fatalities were reported in Guizhou, Hunan and Hubei provinces as floodwaters and landslides struck low-lying communities. Authorities said thousands of residents had been relocated to temporary shelters as rescue operations continued.
China’s weather agency warned that several provinces remain at high risk of flash floods, landslides and severe urban waterlogging. Meteorologists linked the extreme weather to moisture systems moving from the Bay of Bengal, the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, combined with a slow-moving storm pattern that increased rainfall accumulation.
Forecasts indicate the heaviest rain is expected to shift toward areas along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River over the coming days.
The flooding comes as many countries across Asia face increasingly volatile weather patterns linked to climate pressures. Gulf states have also experienced periods of extreme rainfall in recent years, prompting wider regional discussions about infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness.
Separately, authorities in Guangxi said thousands of residents had also been relocated following a magnitude 5.2 earthquake earlier this week, adding further strain to emergency response efforts in the region.
