Heavy rainfall across central and southern China has killed at least 22 people and left 20 others missing, according to state media reports on Wednesday, as record-breaking downpours continue to trigger widespread flooding, evacuations and infrastructure damage across multiple provinces.The extreme weather has affected several regions, with China’s state broadcaster CGTN reporting unusually intense rainfall that has disrupted daily life, forced school and workplace closures, and prompted the allocation of emergency relief funds.

Authorities have warned that rainfall is expected to continue in the coming days, raising concerns about further flooding.In the central province of Hunan, at least five people have died and 11 remain missing, according to reports from state news agency Xinhua News Agency. Officials also said more than 61,000 residents in one county have been affected by flooding and associated disruptions, though full assessments of damage are still underway.

In southern Guangxi, 10 people were confirmed dead after a truck was swept into a swollen river while attempting to cross on Saturday. In nearby Guizhou province, four deaths and several missing persons were reported following landslides and flood-related incidents. Further north in Hubei province, additional fatalities and missing persons were recorded after torrential rains caused structural collapses and communication outages in rural areas.

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Chinese authorities have allocated approximately 120 million yuan in disaster relief funds to support affected regions, along with an additional 30 million yuan specifically directed to Guizhou province, which has reported significant casualties and economic losses. Thousands of residents have been evacuated across the impacted provinces as emergency response teams continue rescue and recovery operations.

China, which regularly experiences seasonal flooding during the summer months, has faced increasing instances of extreme weather events in recent years. Scientists attribute the growing severity of such disasters in part to climate change, while noting that the country remains both the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter and a leading investor in renewable energy as it pursues a long-term goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.

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