Massive Destruction in China: Record-Breaking Floods Submerge Cities and Shatter Infrastructure in Guizhou and Hunan Provinces
China’s Hunan Province is reeling after the most catastrophic flooding event since 1998, as torrential rains continue to batter the region. Triggered by an early-summer monsoon surge, the deluge has claimed at least three lives, displaced over 95,000 people, and impacted more than 400,000 residents — with neighboring Guizhou Province also suffering severe destruction as walls of water collapsed bridges, homes, and embankments.
The Lishui and Guoli rivers rose dramatically, surpassing historical flood benchmarks, submerging neighborhoods, and overwhelming municipal infrastructure. Underground garages, highways, and lowland communities in cities like Zhangjiajie and Longshan were inundated within hours, with dramatic images of rooftops just visible above muddy waters.
Hunan Xiangxi suffered the largest flood in 60 years, and 4 people have been killed so far pic.twitter.com/G5M3MuPNpi
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) June 23, 2025
📉 Historical Context: Floods Reawaken a 1998 Nightmare
The last time Hunan experienced such devastation was during the Yangtze River Basin Floods of 1998, when months of relentless rain displaced millions and caused nearly 4,000 fatalities nationwide. Today’s floods, while more localized, have exceeded rainfall and river level records in multiple counties, echoing the destructive power of that infamous disaster.
Stations in Sangzhi County reported 664.5 mm (26.2 inches) of rain — among the highest ever recorded in the region. Comparisons are now being drawn between the 2025 floods and Typhoon-induced flooding events in 2016 and 2020, but Erick’s rainfall intensity and inland impact set a disturbing new benchmark for June events.
🚨 Bridge Collapse on Xiarong Expressway – Vehicles Fall, Rescue Underway
On June 24, a section of the Xiarong Expressway between Sandu County and Rongjiang, China, collapsed following continuous heavy rainfall and a resulting landslide. The collapse occurred at the Paidong… pic.twitter.com/GJMPa07cdu
— Weather Monitor (@WeatherMonitors) June 24, 2025
🚨 Regional Impacts and Emergency Response
Zhangjiajie: Underground parking floods killed three; emergency crews rescued one person after 22 hours underwater.
Longshan County: Guoli River rose over 7.1 meters (23.3 feet), damaging entire residential blocks.
Guizhou Province: Violent flash floods collapsed bridge structures and triggered landslides, cutting off rural communities.
Over 1.39 million digital alerts and 16,000 SMS warnings were issued; evacuations continue across western Hunan.
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) June 22, 2025
🌧️ Forecast: June 25 – July 5, 2025
Short-Term Outlook (June 25–28):
Continued rainfall of 100–180 mm (4–7 inches) forecast for western Hunan, especially the Lishui and Yuanshui river basins.
Extreme flood risk zones: Xiangxi, western Changde, and northern Huaihua.
Flash floods, landslides, and urban waterlogging expected due to saturated soils and overloaded drainage.
Extended Outlook (June 29–July 5):
A weak subtropical ridge may temporarily shift storm tracks southward, bringing reduced rainfall to Hunan but increased convection across Guangxi and Guizhou.
Secondary storms possible near July 1–3, depending on upper-atmosphere dynamics.
Authorities continue to urge vigilance, especially in mountainous and river-adjacent areas, as soil instability remains high. Emergency personnel remain on high alert, and infrastructure restoration will likely extend into mid-July.
Gleb Perov is the founder and chief meteorologist of POGODNIK, a leading weather forecasting service in Eastern Europe. With over 15 years of hands-on experience in meteorology and climate analysis, he has worked private weather services.
Gleb is the author of numerous scientific and analytical publications on climate, magnetic storms, and atmospheric processes. He regularly collaborates with major international agencies such as NOAA, ECMWF.
