At least 3 dead, over 400 000 affected as record floods sweep through Hunan, China
Torrential rainfall affecting Xiangxi and Zhangjiajie in China’s Hunan Province since June 18, 2025, has triggered the region’s worst flooding since 1998. Water levels exceeded historical records, leaving at least three people dead and affecting more than 400 000 residents.
In Sangzhi, Hunan, a store was hit by a flood on its first day of opening, causing heavy losses https://t.co/z0dqHQeRup pic.twitter.com/2n9NmR6yil
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) June 19, 2025
Torrential rainfall began impacting northern Hunan Province on June 18, bringing record flooding, landslides, and widespread damage across the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Zhangjiajie, and Changde.
According to provincial authorities, this was the region’s most severe flooding since 1998, driven by the first major flood event of the year on the Lishui River. More than 400 000 people across multiple cities have been affected, with at least 95 000 displaced.
At least three fatalities were confirmed in Zhangjiajie, where an underground parking facility flooded rapidly on June 19, trapping four individuals. Three were later found dead, and one was rescued after 22 hours, at approximately 04:35 LT on June 20.
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
From June 18 to June 21, Hunan recorded an average rainfall of 68.5 mm (2.7 inches), with localized extremes far above that. Zhangjiajie logged an areal precipitation of 331.1 mm (13 inches), while Longshan County’s Wuya station reported a peak of 648.0 mm (25.5 inches). Sangzhi County’s Badagongshan township recorded 664.5 mm (26.2 inches).
In Longshan, the Guoli River, a major tributary of the You River, rose more than 7.1 meters (23.3 feet), surpassing previous historical flood levels and submerging entire low-lying neighborhoods. This surge constituted the biggest Flood of the Lishui River in 2025.
Despite efforts to prepare vulnerable sites with sandbags, multiple underground garages in Longshan were rapidly inundated. One local resident reported his compound along the Guoli River was overwhelmed shortly after 05:00 LT. By 07:00 LT, the garage ceiling had been submerged, with dozens of vehicles still inside.
Continuous heavy rains in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province caused severe floods pic.twitter.com/6NqEmuqSEF
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) June 21, 2025
By June 22, the flooding had directly affected 185 000 residents in Longshan County alone. Streets were inundated, and significant disruptions to ongoing public services and examinations.
Evacuations proceeded across flood zones, with the provincial emergency management office confirming over 95 000 residents were relocated. In total, 1.39 million digital alerts and more than 16 000 SMS messages were issued as part of coordinated early warnings.
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) June 22, 2025
Provincial authorities escalated their emergency response level and deployed hundreds of emergency personnel to conduct water rescues, restore road access, and monitor small and medium-sized reservoirs.
Hunan’s governor Mao Weiming visited the Provincial Department of Water Resources and the Flood and Drought Disaster Prevention Center to oversee coordination of regional response on June 22.
Forecasts indicate continued rainfall across Hunan through June 28, with new storms expected to bring 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rain province-wide and up to 180 mm (7.1 inches) in the Lishui and Yuanshui River basins. Authorities warned of heightened risks of flash floods, mountain torrents, urban waterlogging, and landslides, particularly in Xiangxi, western Changde, and northern Huaihua.
References:
1 Extreme heavy rainfall persists in southern China, triggering floods and affecting more than 400,000 – Global Times -June 22, 2025
2 Update: 3 confirmed dead in flooded underground garage in central China – Xinhua – June 20, 2025
3 Heavy rainfall affects over 400,000 in Hunan province – China Daily – June 23, 2025
Reet is a science journalist and researcher with a keen focus on extreme weather, space phenomena, and climate-related issues. With a strong foundation in astronomy and a history of environmental activism, she approaches every story with a sharp scientific lens and a deep sense of purpose. Driven by a lifelong love for writing, and a curiosity about the universe, Reet brings urgency and insight to some of the most important scientific developments of our time.
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