Severe Storms in China Claim Dozens of Lives and Injure Hundreds
Beijing, July 7, 2026
AI-generated image (z-image via Kie.ai)
Summary
Severe storms have caused major damage in several Chinese provinces. In Gansu, a landslide buried 33 people; in Hubei, at least eight people died; and in the south, a dam breach sent a flood wave through a village.
Beijing, July 7, 2026
Several severe storms across central and southern China on Tuesday claimed at least eight lives in Hubei, triggered a landslide in Gansu burying dozens of people, and caused flooding in Guangxi after a dam breach.
Eight Dead and Hundreds Injured in Hubei
At least eight people were killed in severe weather in the central Chinese province of Hubei, state media reported on Tuesday. Rescue teams searched for missing persons in the eastern part of the region following the overnight storm, while authorities simultaneously warned of further storms and tornadoes. The number of injured currently stands at 275, state media reported.
Heavy rain and storm gusts had caused houses to collapse and flooded roads in parts of China in recent days. Civil disaster management authorities in the central Chinese province of Hubei most recently reported at least eleven dead and one missing person. Tornadoes were also reported from some regions.
Landslide in Gansu: 33 People Buried
The hardest-hit area was Tanchang county in the northwestern Chinese province of Gansu. A landslide occurred in the northwestern province of Gansu, burying a total of 33 people, according to state broadcaster CCTV. According to CCTV, 17 people were successfully rescued, while 16 remain buried. Rescue operations in Tanchang were ongoing, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
The mountainous region of the affected village in Tanchang county is prone to natural disasters. As recently as 2010, a mudslide in nearby Zhugqu killed more than 1,500 people, according to official figures. At the time, the mountain villages in the region were considered particularly vulnerable because landslides frequently occurred after heavy rainfall.
Xi Jinping ordered the mobilization of all forces for the rescue and care of the injured. According to official reports, relief teams and medical personnel are to be deployed to the affected areas to recover those buried and to ensure emergency relief.
Dam Breach in Guangxi Triggers Highest Alert Level
In the southern region of Guangxi, authorities in the capital Nanning issued the highest flood alert level after torrential rains caused dams to burst. Video footage showed a torrent of muddy water breaking through the shattered concrete structure. The breach occurred on Monday morning at the Liulan reservoir in Hengzhou in Guangxi and submerged an entire stretch of land, according to photographs.
The rain caused, among other things, parts of the wall of a dam to collapse. According to the latest official figures on the dam breach in Guangxi, four people died and eight were listed as missing. The Guangxi region was meanwhile bracing for heavy rainfall; videos of flash flood-like inundations from the Guangxi region circulated online.
Authorities evacuated tens of thousands of people during the flooding. Residents were brought to safety in the affected areas of Guangxi alone, while cleanup work continued. In Hubei, authorities evacuated hundreds of residents in the directly affected areas.
Xi Jinping Orders Mobilization of All Forces
China is also on alert because of Super Typhoon "Bavi," which is moving across the Pacific toward Taiwan. According to Taiwanese meteorologists, the storm could reach Taiwan on Saturday morning local time, the Taiwanese weather agency said. Beijing's meteorologists expected the storm to hit China a few hours later on Saturday afternoon.
Super Typhoon "Bavi" Takes Aim at Taiwan and China
Super Typhoon "Bavi" is currently classified as a tropical storm with peak wind speeds well above 200 km/h, making it one of the strongest cyclones of the current season. Its exact path and final strength at the time of landfall were still being monitored.
Weather services warned in the meantime of further torrential rains in various parts of the country. Rain warnings were in effect for parts of Guangdong province bordering Guangxi, as well as for the eastern provinces of Anhui and Jiangsu, and likewise for the northern provinces of Shandong, Liaoning, and Jilin, according to China's weather agency. Meanwhile, tornadoes were expected in other areas in northeastern and southern China.
Thunderstorms and severe storms have killed at least 15 people and injured hundreds more in central and southern China. The total number of casualties is spread across multiple provinces and underscores the scale of the ongoing series of storms. Nine people were reported missing, according to the reports.
El Niño Increases Risk of Extreme Weather
China's meteorologists forecast an elevated risk of extreme weather this year due to the El Niño climate phenomenon. El Niño is associated, according to weather services, with stronger typhoons over the Pacific and heavier precipitation across large parts of East Asia. The current season is therefore considered particularly critical.
Heavy rain recently also hit northwestern China, extending the extreme weather situation across the entire country. The government once again called on the population in particularly vulnerable mountain regions to remain vigilant.
Rescue operations in Tanchang, Hubei, and Guangxi continued at full speed on Tuesday. Authorities, firefighters, the military, and volunteers were deployed to recover those buried, care for the injured, and contain the consequences of the flooding.
Weather experts expect the series of storms to continue in the coming days. The arrival of Super Typhoon "Bavi" alone could further aggravate the situation in parts of the country.
Questions & Answers
What happened in Tanchang county in Gansu?
A landslide occurred in Tanchang in the northwestern Chinese province of Gansu, burying 33 people according to state broadcaster CCTV. 17 people could be rescued, while rescue operations continued according to Xinhua.
What is the situation in Hubei province?
At least eight people died in severe storms in the central Chinese province of Hubei on Tuesday night; civil authorities most recently reported eleven dead and one missing. State media also reported 275 injured.
What role does Super Typhoon "Bavi" play in the further development?
China is on alert because of Super Typhoon "Bavi," which is moving across the Pacific toward Taiwan. Beijing's meteorologists expect it to reach the Chinese mainland on Saturday afternoon, while weather services simultaneously warned of further torrential rains inland.
Storms China: Landslide in Gansu, Severe Weather in Hubei | allfacts360
