Cars Swept Away, Streets Turn to Rivers as Floods Ravage Northern China
Severe flooding has overwhelmed parts of northern and northeastern China after the powerful Typhoon Bavi unleashed torrential rain across the country, leaving roads submerged, vehicles swept away and thousands of residents stranded.
The worst-hit areas include Hebei and Liaoning provinces, where rising floodwaters turned streets into fast-moving rivers.
In Kuancheng County, Hebei, water levels climbed above two metres, cutting off communities and trapping about 1,800 villagers as emergency responders worked to relocate residents to safer ground.
Videos circulating on Chinese social media captured dramatic scenes of vehicles floating helplessly before crashing into one another and being carried away by powerful currents.
Other clips showed residents swimming through flooded neighbourhoods and using paddleboards to navigate streets where only the roofs of parked cars remained visible above the water.
The flooding came in the wake of Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to strike mainland China this year.
After battering the eastern coastline with destructive winds and intense rainfall, the storm pushed inland, raising the risk of flash floods across provinces already saturated by earlier downpours.
Chinese authorities issued weather warnings for Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Anhui, cautioning that additional heavy rainfall could worsen flooding.
Liaoning activated its highest-level flash flood alert, while officials in Hebei ordered work stoppages, business closures and the suspension of public gatherings during the red weather warning.
The severe weather has also disrupted transportation and education. Railway authorities suspended train services across more than 30 sections in Shenyang, while schools were closed in several affected areas, including Jilin Province.
China’s Central Meteorological Observatory warned that parts of the country could still face powerful thunderstorms, hail and destructive winds exceeding 117 kilometres per hour.
Forecasters also cautioned that isolated tornadoes remain possible in some areas of Jiangsu Province.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Water Resources said 46 rivers across China are currently flowing above official warning levels, highlighting the growing flood threat as emergency teams continue rescue and relief efforts.
