In Jinyang County, located in the heart of Sichuan province, heavy rains last week led to a dangerous flood incident. Initial reports from China Daily indicate that at least four people were confirmed dead and 48 others remained unaccounted for as rescue teams pressed on in difficult conditions. The region endured rainfall that overwhelmed drainage systems and saturated hillside areas, complicating efforts to locate missing residents and secure the scene.
Authorities stated that the storms began on the 21st, and to date, little verified information has emerged about the full scope of the disaster. A senior provincial official noted that floodwaters inundated a zone where ongoing highway construction had recently taken place. Allegations arose concerning the handling of the incident, with five individuals associated with the projects reportedly arrested for not reporting the event promptly or for providing false information. The official account from the investigation points to a construction crew of about 201 people in the affected area when the flood hit, with 149 of them managing to escape unharmed. As the investigation proceeds, investigators are piecing together exactly how the events unfolded and what gaps may have allowed the floodwaters to gain foothold in the construction site.
Alongside rescue operations, search teams continue their efforts to locate those who remain missing. Recovery work in such flood zones often involves rapid assessment of unstable terrain, coordination of medical evacuations, and the deployment of specialized boats and drones to navigate swollen waterways and reach isolated pockets of residents. Local authorities have urged people in surrounding communities to stay away from flooded zones until it is deemed safe to re-enter, acknowledging that conditions can change quickly in a landscape softened by heavy rainfall.
China has experienced widespread rainfall across several regions in recent days. Jilin province in the northeast activated the second-highest level on the national four-tier alert system, signaling a serious weather threat. Other provinces, including Liaoning, Shandong, Shanghai, and Fujian, also escalated their alert levels, while Guangxi, Yunnan, and Tibet joined those measures with the third tier. These actions reflect a broad pattern of intensified rainfall and elevated flood risk that officials have been monitoring closely across the country. The sustained wet weather has raised concerns about fresh flood threats downstream, impacting transportation networks, agriculture, and urban infrastructure.
Earlier this year, China faced destructive weather events that underscored the volatility of regional climate conditions. In August, Typhoon Doksuri struck areas including Beijing, bringing an extraordinary amount of rain that contributed to significant flooding and casualties. The impact of such storms has been felt in multiple provinces, with a record-setting rainfall event marking one of the most intense hydrological episodes in recent memory. Analysts point to a pattern of extreme rainfall episodes that have affected central China in recent summers, coinciding with periods of drought in more southern regions. Experts emphasize the importance of resilient infrastructure, robust emergency response systems, and proactive preparations to mitigate the human and economic costs of future storms.