Over 20 dead, dozens missing as severe rainstorms batter China

The death toll from torrential rains pounding central and southern China since last weekend has climbed to 22, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday.

Authorities are still searching for an additional 20 individuals who remain missing.

Several regions have registered unprecedented rainfall levels over the last few days, leading to temporary closures of schools and workplaces.

Police officer assists woman navigate submerged street in Duyun, Guizhou, southwestern China, May 19, 2026. (AFP Photo)

The central province of Hunan reported five fatalities and 11 people missing. State media noted that over 61,500 residents in a single county within the province have been impacted by the severe storms.

Further south in Guangxi, flooding led to 10 confirmed deaths after a truck was swept into a swollen river over the weekend.

Meanwhile, neighboring Guizhou province recorded four deaths and five missing persons following heavy downpours. In central Hubei province, severe flooding claimed three lives, left four missing, and caused severe infrastructural damage, with buildings collapsing and communications cut off to isolated villages.

Flood-affected area after heavy rains in Duyun, Guizhou, southwestern china, May 19, 2026. (AFP Photo)

Emergency funding and large-scale evacuations

In response to the devastation, government officials released 120 million yuan ($17.6 million) in emergency disaster relief funds on Tuesday to assist five of the hardest-hit regions. An extra 30 million yuan was designated specifically for Guizhou province to address extensive casualties and property damage.

Emergency response teams have successfully evacuated nearly 24,000 residents across Hunan, Guizhou, and Hubei provinces, though meteorological forecasts indicate that continuous heavy rainfall will persist across the region in the coming days.

People clean up mud along submerged road in Duyun, Guizhou , southwestern China, May 19, 2026. (AFP Photo)

Climate scientists continue to warn that global extreme weather events will become both more frequent and intense as global temperatures rise due to fossil fuel emissions.

While China remains the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the country has also established itself as a leading global powerhouse in renewable energy, aiming to transition its vast economy to carbon-neutral status by 2060.

May 20, 2026 01:42 PM GMT+03:00