At least 22 died, several others missing due to heavy rain in China’s multiple provinces

Several regions have been hit by record-level downpours since the weekend, triggering widespread flooding, transport disruption and emergency evacuations

BEIJING: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-May 20^th, 2026) At least 22 people have died and 20 others remain missing following days of heavy rainfall and flooding across central and southern China, according to state media reports on Wednesday.

Several regions have been hit by record-level downpours since the weekend, triggering widespread flooding, transport disruption and emergency evacuations.

The authorities have suspended schools and work activities in affected areas while rescue operations continue on an urgent basis.

In Hunan province, five deaths have been reported and 11 people are still unaccounted for after torrential rains caused severe flooding in mountainous areas. Officials said large populations in several counties have been impacted by rising water levels and landslides.

In Guangxi region, 10 people were killed after a truck attempting to cross a swollen river was swept away on Saturday evening. Rescue teams later recovered the bodies following extensive search efforts.

Guizhou province has also suffered significant losses, with four confirmed deaths and five people missing amid ongoing heavy rainfall and flooding.

<?php /*?> <?php */?>

In Hubei province, floods triggered by persistent rains left three people dead and four missing. The disaster also damaged infrastructure, collapsed structures in some areas, and disrupted communication links in remote villages.

Chinese authorities have released 120 million Yuan (approximately $17.6 million) in emergency disaster relief funds for five affected regions. An additional 30 million yuan has been allocated to Guizhou province due to heavy casualties and extensive property damage.

The officials said nearly 24,000 people have been evacuated from flood-hit areas across Hunan, Guizhou and Hubei as part of ongoing relief efforts.

China regularly faces extreme weather during the summer season, and scientists have warned that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such events worldwide due to rising global temperatures linked to greenhouse gas emissions.

Meteorological agencies have warned that further rainfall is expected in the coming days, raising concerns over additional flooding and landslides in already affected regions.