25 rivers exceed safe levels in southwestern China after Typhoon Danas remnants and monsoon rains converge

Water levels on 25 rivers in southwestern China exceeded safe thresholds on July 10, 2025, following the convergence of Typhoon Danas’ remnants with East Asian monsoon rains, prompting the evacuation of over 10 000 residents.

The levels of 25 rivers in southwestern China exceeded warning thresholds on July 10, after the remnants of former Typhoon Danas merged with East Asian monsoon rains.

Ten rivers, including the Longyan River in the municipality of Chongqing, were at risk of breaching embankments, while the remaining 15 rivers had exceeded bank-full levels, according to state media and the Ministry of Water Resources. Authorities evacuated over 10 000 residents in vulnerable areas across Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

The Chishui River in Guizhou province reached its highest recorded level since measurements began in 1953. In neighboring Sichuan, the Xiaocao River reached its highest level in 29 years, underlining the exceptional intensity of rainfall accumulation.

In one county in Yunnan, 227.8 mm (9 inches) of rainfall was recorded within 24 hours, the highest daily total since 1958. In Zhaotong City, Yunnan, two people were confirmed dead following flash flooding.

Heavy rainfall also affected northern regions. In Beijing’s Chaoyang district, 68.2 mm (2.7 inches) of precipitation fell within one hour on July 10. Authorities warned that the combination of high humidity, elevated temperatures, and poor drainage conditions may increase risks of water and food contamination.

In Sichuan’s Yibin region, over 6 000 residents were relocated following flooding in residential areas. In Tibet’s Gyirong County, flooding along the riverbanks displaced more than 300 residents. The flood arc stretched across more than 1 400 km (870 miles) from the eastern coastal provinces to the western plateau regions.

Meteorological authorities attribute the extreme rainfall to a convergence of residual moisture from Typhoon Danas with monsoonal flows. Danas made landfall in Taiwan on July 6, weakening over eastern China before its remnants reached the southwest.

Simultaneously, heatwaves driven by a subtropical high-pressure system were affecting eastern cities including Shanghai, Wuhan, and Changsha, with temperatures exceeding 38°C (100°F) in many areas.

References:

¹ Rivers in southwest China breach warning levels, with thousands evacuated – Reuters – July 10, 2025

Featured image credit: Jim Yang

Reet Kaur

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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