Lives Shaken, Homes Lost China Grapples with Deadly Floods and Landslides Amid Relentless ‘Plum Rains’
Beijing, July 3 — In a week marked by heartbreak and heroic rescue efforts, relentless rains swept across China’s north and west, triggering landslides, flash floods, and deep despair for countless families caught in nature’s fury.
The annual “Plum Rains,” known for their seasonal timing and torrential intensity, have pushed rivers past their breaking points, swallowed homes, and shattered lives — particularly in the provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, Henan, and Liaoning.
In the small town of Taiping, Henan, families barely had time to react as floodwaters surged. A nearby river burst its banks, killing five people. Three more are still missing. Over 1,000 emergency workers were dispatched in a race against time — pulling survivors from rising waters and searching for those still unaccounted for.
The human toll has extended across provinces. In Gansu, two construction workers lost their lives when a landslide engulfed their site. In Guangxi, homes simply couldn’t hold — their soaked foundations giving way, sending entire buildings crashing into rivers below.
One haunting video, confirmed by Reuters, shows a five-storey building in Xinzhou crumble and disappear into the flood-swollen waters in seconds. It’s a chilling reminder of how fragile the line between safety and disaster can be.
In Pingliu Village, just 80 km from Xinzhou, families were abruptly evacuated as landslides crushed homes — two destroyed, four severely damaged. Fortunately, no lives were lost there, thanks to swift action.
China’s Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing visited Hebei province this week, urging local officials to act fast and evacuate communities before disaster strikes. His call came as red weather alerts blared across regions, and emergency measures intensified.
Yet even with China’s robust weather monitoring systems, many rural communities remain vulnerable. Precise, localised forecasts are still difficult, and people in remote areas often have little time or support to escape danger.
While floodwaters surged in the west, the east coast baked under punishing heat — a stark contrast that underscores the unpredictability of a changing climate. Experts continue to warn that extreme weather, made worse by global warming, is placing unbearable pressure on aging infrastructure and rural communities alike.
The agricultural heartland, responsible for feeding millions, is also under siege. The economic damage from these floods is mounting, with fears echoing last year’s losses, which soared past $10 billion.
As rains continue to fall and skies stay heavy, one thing is clear — this is more than a weather event. It’s a wake-up call. For those who’ve lost loved ones, homes, or their sense of security, the need for support and solutions has never been more urgent.