Heavy floods submerge roads, vehicles in northern China
Severe flooding in northern China’s Hebei province and northeastern Liaoning province has inundated roads, swept away vehicles and forced residents to navigate submerged streets by swimming and paddleboards, according to videos shared on social media.
In Kuancheng County, Hebei, water levels on some roads rose above two metres, based on accounts from residents aired by local state media. The county, which has a population of about 240,000, is located along the Luan River.
Footage from the area showed several vehicles colliding and floating along flooded roads before being carried away by strong currents.
The flooding followed Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to hit mainland China this year, which brought heavy rainfall to the eastern coast and powerful winds to densely populated areas, putting the country’s disaster response systems to the test.
Authorities warned that the storm could bring intense rainfall to several provinces, including Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Anhui, increasing flood risks in regions already affected by earlier heavy rains.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that about 1,800 residents in Kuancheng had been stranded, while officials said their immediate priority was relocating and resettling affected communities. In Liaoning, authorities issued a red alert for flash floods, warning of extremely high risks.
Hebei authorities urged residents and businesses to comply with emergency measures, including suspending work, closing businesses and avoiding gatherings during periods of severe rainfall.
Social media videos from Shenyang in Liaoning showed flooded streets with only the roofs of parked vehicles visible above the water. Other footage showed residents using paddleboards to move through submerged neighbourhoods.
Transport services have also been disrupted, with China Railway reporting that numerous train services in Shenyang had been suspended and more than 30 railway sections affected.
Schools in several areas, including parts of Jilin province, were temporarily closed due to the extreme weather conditions.
The Central Meteorological Observatory warned that some parts of northeastern China could experience severe thunderstorms, hailstorms and powerful winds, with some areas in Jiangsu province facing winds strong enough to trigger possible tornadoes.
China’s Ministry of Water Resources reported that 46 rivers across the country had risen above warning levels due to the widespread flooding.
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