On May 17th 7:00 to May 18th 7:00, Hunan’s Changde Shimen County experienced extreme heavy rainfall, with a total rainfall of 363.5 millimeters in 24 hours, causing water levels to surge in towns like Hupingshan and Suojie, leading to flooding in a high school, shops along the streets, suspension bridges being washed away, and vehicles being swept away. Due to the severe impact of the disaster, the local authorities have activated a Level 2 flood response.
According to reports from “Extreme News,” the heavy rainfall centered around Hupingshan Town in Shimen County has affected more than ten villages and towns in the surrounding areas. The water level in Shimen rose rapidly, with the Shuanghe hydrological station experiencing a water level surge of 8.76 meters.
A resident in Hupingshan Town stated that due to the rainfall, in the early hours of the 18th, the flood suddenly surged, raising the water level by nearly 20 meters compared to normal. Nearby bridges were submerged, some riverside houses were flooded to two or three floors, there was a water and power outage in the area, and communication signals were also affected.
The resident mentioned that the rainfall started on May 16th and was still ongoing on the morning of the 18th, with significant water accumulation in low-lying areas, leading to vehicles being swept away.
In another report from “People’s Concern,” a suspension bridge in Manakou, Suojie Town, Shimen County, was washed away by the flood in just 10 seconds, with shops along the streets flooded, and the water almost reaching car roofs.
A netizen posted a video pleading for help, stating that the Suojie Middle School in Shimen County (officially known as the Suojie Town Central School) was affected by the flooding, asking for assistance for the students and teachers. The video showed the ground floor already submerged in water. Staff from the Shimen County Education Bureau responded to “Jiupai News,” stating that there were no casualties, and students and teachers were relocated to a safer area.
According to monitoring by the Hunan Meteorological Observatory, in the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was recorded in three towns in Changde, with Fuxing Town in Li County receiving a total precipitation of 363.5 millimeters. Hupingshan Town recorded 240.6 millimeters of rainfall from midnight to 6 a.m., breaking historical records.
The Shimen County Public Security Bureau’s Traffic Management Team issued a notice stating that due to the heavy rainfall, some roads in the northwest mountainous areas of Shimen County experienced water accumulation and landslides. Six main roads in the area have implemented traffic control measures, with one bridge showing signs of instability, leading to a ban on vehicle passage.
Officials from the Shimen County Emergency Management Bureau stated that flash floods occurred in Hupingshan Town and Suojie Town, causing serious damage. A Level 2 flood response has been activated, and as of 11:00 on the 18th, 16,000 trapped residents in the area have been relocated.