China evacuates thousands as torrential rains flood Chongqing and Guizhou

Heavy rainstorms swept across southwest China in early June, prompting emergency flood responses in Chongqing municipality and Guizhou province. In Chongqing, authorities launched a Level IV flood emergency across 34 districts, later upgrading Hechuan to Level I, the highest category. More than 18,500 emergency managers and 387,000 grassroots workers received alerts; nearly 18,000 rescue personnel and 2,000 vehicles were on standby. About 452 residents were evacuated, and no casualties were reported. Special measures were taken at all 112 Gaokao examination sites, with 560 rescuers and 106 emergency vehicles positioned nearby.

In Guizhou, torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides, leading to a top‑level red alert for mountain torrents. Nearly 10,000 residents were moved to safety, including 1,377 people from Qianxi City, over 3,000 from Changshun County, and thousands more in the Qiandongnan autonomous prefecture. Authorities mobilised thousands of flood‑control staff and monitored dozens of rivers. Four people were confirmed dead in Guiding County after severe rainfall caused landslides.