At least two people lost their lives and ten remain missing after powerful flash floods swept through Shandong province in eastern China early Tuesday. The disaster followed hours of intense monsoon rain that flooded villages and damaged homes, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Rainfall reached up to 364 millimetres (14 inches) in parts of Jinan, the provincial capital, between midnight and 5 a.m. The relentless downpour triggered sudden floods in two villages in Dawangzhuang town, washing away roads and toppling structures. Nineteen homes were either completely destroyed or severely damaged.
Authorities launched large-scale rescue operations shortly after the flooding began. Emergency crews, aided by drones and thermal imaging, are scouring the affected areas for any sign of the ten missing persons. Rescue boats have been deployed in submerged zones, and temporary shelters have been set up for displaced families.
Officials said disaster response efforts would continue “in an orderly manner,” with a focus on restoring access, clearing debris, and providing medical and psychological aid to survivors. Roads leading to the hardest-hit areas have been cleared for emergency vehicles, and relief supplies are being distributed.
China is no stranger to climate extremes. In June, six people died and over 80,000 were evacuated in southern Guizhou due to floods. A highway landslide in Sichuan this month also claimed five lives. These incidents underscore the country’s vulnerability as climate change fuels more frequent and intense weather events. China has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2060, but it still struggles with the immediate impacts of a warming planet.