Floods and landslides hit Fuzhou, China after 296 mm (11.65 inches) of rain in 12 hours

Very heavy rainfall inundated parts of eastern China today, with Lianjiang County in Fuzhou, Fujian Province recording 296 mm (11.65 inches) of rain within just 12 hours.

The extreme rainfall event caused widespread flooding in residential and commercial zones, overwhelmed underground infrastructure, and triggered a landslide that blocked a tunnel in central Fuzhou.

Local footage and witness reports confirm significant submersion of underground parking garages across Lianjiang County. In multiple areas, vehicles were fully submerged under floodwater. Surface streets were also heavily affected, with torrents of water carrying vehicles downstream.

The intense rainfall saturated the soil and led to slope failure near one of Fuzhou’s road tunnels, which subsequently became completely obstructed by a landslide. The tunnel entrance was buried in debris, with no immediate access for vehicles or emergency teams.

Fujian’s Meteorological Bureau issued an orange rainstorm warning prior to the event, the second-highest level in China’s four-tier color-coded system.

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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