Five missing, 7 000 evacuated after record rainfall triggers floods and landslides in Yunnan, China
Record rainfall of up to 255 mm (10 inches) hit Zhaotong, China’s Yunnan Province from July 8 to 9, 2025, triggering severe flooding and landslides in Weixin County and leaving five people missing. Over 7 000 residents have been evacuated.
Image credit: Jim Yang
Record rainfall affected Zhaotong City in southwest China’s Yunnan Province from 07:00 local time (LT) on July 8 to 14:00 on July 9. The heaviest precipitation was recorded in Luobu Township, Weixin County, reaching 255 mm (10 inches) in a single day, the highest since local records began in 1958.
The intense rainfall triggered multiple landslides and widespread flooding. In Heilong Village, Luobu Township, two residential buildings were destroyed by a rain-induced landslide. Four residents had been moved to a neighbor’s house late at night, but as of the morning of July 9, all five people, four from one household and one neighbor, were confirmed missing.
Rainfall intensity in the region reached a maximum hourly rate of 65.9 mm (2.6 inches), with 29 monitoring stations across Zhaotong recording extreme rainfall and 37 stations reporting heavy rain.
More than 20 landslides and over 10 debris flows were reported, along with the collapse or damage of over 200 roads. Flooding inundated more than 150 homes and damaged approximately 1 500 vehicles in urban areas. Power outages affected parts of Weixin County, and agricultural losses are currently being assessed.
The Zhaotong Municipal Party Committee and local government activated a level-two emergency response protocol (“1262” mechanism), deploying public security, emergency management, fire, transportation, and power supply teams for rescue and disaster relief.
Meteorological, hydrological, and geological agencies issued over 70 warnings during the rainfall period, including for secondary disasters such as landslides and debris flows.
As of July 9, more than 7 000 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Search and rescue operations for the five missing persons are ongoing.
References:
1 云南威信县黑龙村强降雨致5人失联 – CCTV – July 9, 2025
2 云南昭通遭遇特大暴雨 致5人失联 – Sina – July 9, 2025
I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.
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