At Least 3 Dead, 19 Missing as Monsoon Rains Hit Southwest China

At least three people have been killed, and 19 others remain missing after torrential rain triggered severe flooding in southwestern China’s Chongqing municipality, as authorities across the country issued a series of high-level storm warnings amid the arrival of the monsoon season.

Chinese state media People’s Daily reported that heavy rain battered parts of Chongqing between 8 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday, with some areas recording exceptionally high rainfall totals. Authorities said 22 districts and counties were hit by rainstorms, including nine areas that experienced what officials classified as severe rainstorms.

The hardest-hit area was Yongchuan District, where rainfall reached 270 millimeters (10.6 inches) within 24 hours. Local authorities said one subdistrict recorded 296.6 millimeters of rain between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Saturday, with peak hourly rainfall exceeding 103 millimeters.

Officials said the sudden downpour caused flash flooding.

Chongqing authorities issued an orange rainstorm alert at 5 a.m. Saturday, warning that flash floods posed a high risk in several districts. Officials also warned that rising water levels threatened dozens of small and medium-sized rivers across the municipality. The orange alert is the second-highest warning, with forecasts of more than 50 millimeters of rain within 3 hours.

According to People’s Daily, 22 rivers at 37 monitoring stations exceeded warning levels, while 12 rivers at 18 stations rose above safety thresholds. Water authorities said additional flooding was possible through Monday.

The flash flooding in Chongqing came as neighboring Hubei Province faced another round of extreme rainfall.

The Wuhan Meteorological Observatory issued a red rainstorm warning on Saturday morning, its second-highest alert of the week, warning of severe flooding risks, geological disasters, and rapidly rising rivers, according to Chinese state media China News Service.

Forecasters said parts of Wuhan were expected to receive an additional 40 to 70 millimeters of rain within several hours, bringing total rainfall in some areas above 100 millimeters, triggering the red level alert.

Under emergency guidelines issued alongside the warning, authorities called for the suspension of gatherings, classes, and business operations except in essential industries, while directing government departments to prepare for flood control and disaster response measures.

By midday Saturday, hourly rainfall measurements in Wuhan ranked among the highest in China, according to data from local state-controlled media Hubei Daily citing the China Meteorological Administration.

The city had already issued a red rainstorm warning earlier in the week. Since Monday, Wuhan authorities have issued 14 separate rainstorm alerts, including two red alerts, seven orange alerts, and five yellow alerts.

The warnings sparked discussion on Chinese social media platform Weibo, where some residents said heavy rain had caused widespread traffic congestion and disruptions. Others questioned whether schools and businesses had actually suspended operations, saying they had received no official notice despite the public warnings.

On May 25, China’s National Meteorological Center announced an orange-level rainstorm alert across central and eastern China.

Monsoon season in southern China usually starts in May–June and peaks before August.

Xia Song contributed to this report.