In the summer of 2025, the United States, China, and several European countries have been hit by extreme weather conditions. From historic floods and flash floods in Texas to severe flooding in southern China, and heatwaves engulfing Europe and the East Coast of the United States, the world is facing a stark reality of “fire and water”.
On July 13, just nine days after a devastating flood in Texas, the Lampasas River experienced a sudden rise in water levels, prompting authorities to issue a “flash flood emergency” and a red alert for central Texas. The Fox Weather Center reported rainfall rates of up to 3 inches (7.6 cm) per hour in the Hill Country and Concho Valley, with some areas receiving up to 10 inches of rain.
In San Saba County, the water level of the Lampasas River in the Adamsville area rose by 14 feet (about 4.3 meters) in just two hours. The river was flowing at a rate that could fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools per second, leading authorities to describe it as a “catastrophic outcome”.
Kerr County and Gillespie County also experienced life-threatening flash flooding on the same day. The local sheriff’s offices issued a “red alert”, urging 50,000 residents to be prepared to evacuate. Authorities emphasized on social media that it was a “precautionary evacuation notice” and not a mandatory order.
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas announced on social media that the Texas Task Force One and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department were conducting swiftwater rescues in Lampasas County. Evacuation operations had expanded to seven counties, including San Saba County, Lampasas County, and Menard County.
Texas had already suffered a historic disaster earlier this month. On July 4th, the Guadalupe River experienced a 20-foot rise in water levels within 90 minutes, resulting in the flooding of campsites and residential areas. The tragedy at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Kerr County, claimed the lives of 27 children and counselors. To date, 129 deaths have been confirmed, with 166 people reported missing.
Meanwhile, astonishing disasters unfolded in southwestern China. Starting from June 18, Rongjiang County in Guizhou Province experienced continuous heavy rain, reaching half a year’s total rainfall in just one week, with the rainfall from June 22 to 24 equivalent to that of 46 West Lakes in Hangzhou (total storage capacity of 14.29 million cubic meters). The region suffered from road damage, power outages, and severe housing destruction.
By June 28, the flood control emergency response level in Rongjiang County was raised from Level II to Level I, with over 8,000 officials mobilized to evacuate more than 40,000 people. On the morning of the 29th, floods once again struck the Changchi Square commercial area in Rongjiang, prompting evacuations, as resident Wang Jie lamented, “The plaza had just finished pumping out water, and now we have to evacuate again.”
In Tashixiang and Pingyang Townships of Rongjiang County, rainfall exceeded 200 mm within 24 hours, combined with accumulative precipitation from the upstream regions of Leishan County and Danzhai County, leading to a significant rise in the Douliu River’s water levels, setting a record high since 1954. At least six fatalities were reported by officials.
Typhoon “Danas” swept across multiple provinces in China in early July with a zigzag pathway. On July 8th, the typhoon made landfall three times along the coastal areas of Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds that forced the suspension of high-speed trains in Wenzhou and triggered numerous landslides and floods along its path.