In recent days, heavy rain has wreaked havoc in southern China, causing severe flooding in Rongjiang, Guizhou Province. Following that, Sichuan Province has also been hit hard by torrential rains, with three areas in Chengdu ranking among the top three nationally in terms of rainfall on the morning of June 19th. One area recorded a rainfall total that broke previous records. Streets in Chengdu were flooded, with water gushing into the Tianfu Sanjie subway station like a waterfall. Local residents expressed concerns about the accumulation of water on the streets resembling small rivers and the potential dangers of electrical hazards.
According to reports from mainland Chinese media, on June 29th, heavy rainfall began in Sichuan, covering areas such as Chengdu and Meishan with rain echoes. As of 7 a.m. on the 29th, among the 2569 national-level meteorological observation stations in China, the cities of Pixian, Wenjiang, and Shuangliu in Chengdu ranked in the top three in hourly rainfall nationwide, with Pixian breaking the record with a total rainfall of 286 millimeters, surpassing the previous record of 215 millimeters set in 2013. Pixian and Wenjiang saw hourly rainfall exceeding 50 millimeters.
On that day, parts of the Sichuan Basin experienced heavy rain, with some areas seeing extremely heavy rain. Chengdu became the core area for heavy rain in China. Instances of water pouring like a waterfall were observed in the Tianfu Sanjie subway station in Chengdu. In one community in the high-tech zone of Chengdu, the underground parking lot was filled with rainwater within half an hour, submerging over 50 vehicles. In the Jinniu district, delivery workers were seen using rubber boats to deliver meals.
On June 29th, a resident near Meishan Middle School in Chengdu, Mr. Chen (alias), told Epoch Times that the rain was too heavy that day, with thunder still rumbling and blocked drainage systems causing water on the streets to rise above ankle height, turning the area into a waterway where boats could navigate, making it impossible to drive.
Mr. Chen expressed his concerns, stating that the flooding in his area was severe, with even the entrance to the residential compound submerged.
He expressed fears about the risk of electrical hazards and felt it was dangerous to venture outside.
Ms. Lin, a Chengdu resident, mentioned in an interview that the rainfall was excessive, with water on the balconies of office buildings reaching thigh-high levels. She feared that if the rain continued, water would enter the rooms, potentially causing the balcony to collapse under the pressure of accumulated water. “The outdoor unit of the air conditioner on the balcony has already lost power.”
Mr. Cai, another Chengdu resident, reported being awakened by thunder and strong winds on the morning of the 29th.
He noted that the morning rain was heavy, causing water accumulation in low-lying areas due to blocked drainage systems. He mentioned a foul smell lingering in the air, indicating that septic tank contents had overflowed.
On June 29th, the Chengdu Meteorological Bureau issued a continued yellow rainstorm warning at 14:50: it is expected that in the next 6 hours, parts of the towns (streets) in Chenghua District, Jinniu District, Qingyang District, Jinjiang District, Wuhou District, High-Tech West District, High-Tech South District, Qingbaijiang District, and Eastern New District of Chengdu will see rainfall exceeding 50 millimeters, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong convective weather with lightning and gusty winds.
According to reports from Chinese media, Xindu, Jintang, and Chongzhou have issued yellow rainstorm warnings, Wenjiang has issued a thunderstorm wind yellow warning, Shuangliu and Xinjin have issued blue wind warnings, Pixian, Xinjin, Dayi, and Dujiangyan have issued orange rainstorm warnings, Dujiangyan, Pengzhou, and Tianfu New District have issued lightning yellow warnings, Chongzhou has issued yellow wind warnings, and other districts (cities) and counties are expected to issue warnings.
Apart from Sichuan, Chinese meteorological units have predicted that from June 29th to 30th, there will be heavy to torrential rains in the Sichuan Basin, southeastern Gansu, southern Shaanxi, and most parts of Chongqing, with some areas experiencing heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.
In recent days, Rongjiang County in Guizhou has been severely affected by heavy rain, prompting multiple city-wide alerts and evacuation orders for residents in flood-prone areas. This has led to traffic congestion as many people hurriedly evacuated with their belongings, leaving the region in disarray. Although the floodwaters have temporarily receded, videos circulating online show that the city and some rural town streets in Rongjiang are covered with mud and debris, presenting a scene of devastation.