Recent floods have been wreaking havoc in various regions of mainland China. Authorities continue to issue heavy rain warnings, with 13 provinces and cities in China expecting heavy to torrential rain starting from June 23. Floods in Hunan and Anhui have been ongoing for several days, with floodwaters in residential areas in Hunan’s Changde submerging adults up to their thighs. In Anhui’s Shexian County, water levels rose to 1 to 2 meters within minutes, sweeping away an elderly couple.
On the 21st, a villager named Mr. Xie mentioned that when the flood hit, he was working near his front door, while his wife and parents were at home. Due to the swift floodwaters, he had to seek refuge in another resident’s home across the street.
According to a report by the Henan Commerce Daily’s “Red Pepper Videos,” various debris like wood, clothing, and bottles were either piled up or scattered in thick sludge inside villager Mr. Cheng’s house. The deepest part of sludge in the courtyard reached knee-high.
Mr. Cheng’s wife described that around 5:50 AM on the 20th, floodwater suddenly burst through the courtyard wall, flooded the house, and then rushed out through the front gate. The water level rose rapidly to over a meter deep within visible speed, with a very fast flow rate.
The China Meteorological Administration continued to issue orange alerts for heavy rain on June 23 at 6 AM: it is expected that from 8 AM on the 23rd to 8 AM on the 24th, parts of Anhui’s south, Shanghai, central-northern Zhejiang, central-northern Jiangxi, northwest Fujian, southeast Hubei, central-northern Hunan, most parts of Guizhou, northeast Yunnan, southern Sichuan, eastern Heilongjiang, eastern Jilin, and western Hainan will experience heavy to torrential rain, with some areas having heavy rain of 100-150 millimeters. Some regions may witness short but intense rainfall (30-50 millimeters per hour, locally exceeding 80 millimeters), along with strong convective weather like thunderstorms and strong winds.
The Hunan Provincial Meteorological Observatory reported on the afternoon of June 22 that from daytime to nighttime on June 23, there would be medium to heavy rain in the north of Hunan, while regions such as the south-central and southern parts of Zhangjiajie, northern parts of Huaihua, central-southern Changde, Yiyang, Yueyang, and northern and western parts of Changsha would experience heavy rain.
Reports stated that since June 16, Hunan has been facing continuous heavy rain and rainstorms. As of 8 AM on the 22nd, the province’s average rainfall reached 91.7 millimeters, with cities like Yueyang (128.9 mm), Changsha (128.5 mm), and Changde (117.1 mm) experiencing significant rainfall. In total, 110 counties and 814 towns in 14 cities and prefectures of the province had accumulated rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters, with the highest in Taoyuan Yiwangxi Town reaching 522.3 millimeters.
On June 22, heavy rain hit Changde, Hunan, causing flooding in residential areas. A video of a man standing in floodwater, calling out for his loved ones, went viral on the internet. The video showed that the flood had already submerged his thighs.
The Changde Daily reported on June 23 that on the 22nd, Taoyuan County experienced a new round of heavy rainfall, with rainfall in several towns exceeding historical records, leading to varying degrees of danger. In the early morning, heavy rain hit towns such as Tea Anpu and Zhengjiayi.
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The Anhui Provincial Meteorological Observatory updated the orange alert for heavy rain on June 23 at 9 AM. Over the next 24 hours, regions like Anqing, Chizhou, Huangshan, and Xuancheng will experience heavy rain, with areas in Chizhou and Huangshan facing heavy to torrential rainfall (160-220 millimeters), accompanied by short but intense rainfall (maximum intensity of 40-60 millimeters per hour, locally exceeding 80 millimeters), thunderstorms, and strong convective weather.
The Anhui meteorological department mentioned that from the night of the 22nd to the 23rd, severe rainstorms hit Shexian County, making the occurrence of flash floods and geological disasters highly probable throughout the county. Shexian County has initiated a level one red alert for flash floods.
On June 20, a heavy rain process in Shexian County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province triggered flooding disasters. The county received an average of 158.5 millimeters of rain within 12 hours, affecting over 27,000 people.
Reports show that debris like wood, clothing, and bottles were either piled up or scattered in thick sludge inside villager Mr. Cheng’s home, with the deepest parts reaching knee-high in sludge.
Mr. Cheng’s wife explained that around 5:50 AM on the 20th, floodwater suddenly burst through the courtyard wall, flooded the house, and then rushed out through the front gate. The water level rose rapidly to over a meter deep within visible speed, with a very fast flow rate.
On the 21st, villager Mr. Xie stated that when the flood hit, he was working near the front door of the house, with his wife and parents inside. As the floodwaters surged too quickly, he could only take refuge in another resident’s home across the street.
Mr. Xie mentioned that the water level rose over 2 meters in just three minutes. Due to his mother’s recent surgery, she had difficulties moving. He speculated that his father may have tried to close the door to avoid the flood, but ultimately failed. His elderly parents in their 70s were swept away by the flood.
After 11 AM on June 23, Anshan issued an orange alert for heavy rain: in the past hour, Chaoyang Town in Xiuyan County received 42 millimeters of rainfall, with 10 to 15 millimeters of precipitation expected in the next 1 to 2 hours.