Full Breakdown
Flash Floods and Landslides in Chongqing's Yongchuan District Claim Nine Lives
5/25/2026, 10:07:02 PM
Flooding in Chongqing's Yongchuan District Claims Nine Lives
Torrential rain on the night of 23 May triggered flash floods and landslides in the Yongchuan district of Chongqing municipality, southwestern China. By 25 May, the death toll had risen to nine, with eleven individuals reported missing. The disaster forced the relocation of more than 2,000 residents from affected neighbourhoods and villages.
Recent Intense Rainfall Across Central and Southwestern China
The Yongchuan event follows a broader pattern of extreme precipitation that swept central and southwestern China earlier in the week, killing dozens in separate incidents as a belt of intense rainfall moved across the region.
Timeline of the Disaster
- 23 May (overnight): Sudden, extreme rainfall inundates Yongchuan district, causing flash floods and landslides.
- 24 May: Local authorities confirm three deaths.
- 25 May: Updated reports raise the death count to nine and list eleven missing persons; over 2,000 residents are evacuated.
Data and Statistics
- Confirmed deaths: 9
- Missing persons: 11
- Residents relocated: >2,000
- Earlier regional fatalities: Dozens (exact number not specified)
Official Statements & Responses
State broadcaster CCTV gave the latest casualty figures and missing-person count. Xinhua News Agency noted that over two thousand people have been moved to temporary shelters. Local emergency services deployed search-and-rescue teams to the hardest-hit villages, focusing on flood-water removal and landslide stabilization.
Verbatim Quotes
- “BEIJING - The death toll from flooding in south-western China’s Chongqing has risen to nine and 11 people are missing following torrential rain in the municipality, state broadcaster CCTV reported on May 25 .” — CCTV
- “A number of neighbourhoods and villages in the district of Yongchuan were severely hit by sudden, extreme rainfall overnight on Saturday, state media reported earlier.” — State media
- “Three deaths were confirmed on Sunday.” — State media
- “The rainfall caused flash floods and landslides in the area and more than 2,000 residents have been relocated, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.” — Xinhua
- “Dozens of people were killed earlier last week when a belt of intense rainfall swept across large areas of central and southwestern China.” — State media
Impact and Ongoing Relief Efforts
Flooding and landslides disrupted transportation routes and damaged housing in Yongchuan. Emergency shelters operate at capacity, while authorities coordinate with regional disaster-response units to provide food, medical aid, and temporary accommodation. Monitoring of river levels and soil stability continues.
What's Next
Authorities will complete a damage assessment in the coming days and begin reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure. Meteorological forecasts will guide future flood-risk mitigation, and relief agencies remain on standby for further displacement.
