Heavy rain triggers evacuations in Sichuan, China
Heavy rain triggered two geological disasters in Sichuan Province, China, between August 18 and 19, 2026, disrupting National Highway G350 and prompting the pre-emptive evacuation of 21 784 people from risk areas across 64 counties. In a separate rain-related structural accident in Changning County on August 18, a rooftop parapet wall collapsed during a university-admission banquet, killing 5 people and injuring 17.
Representatitive image of deadly floods in Chongqing, China on May 24, 2026. Credit: Yangyubin1998
From 08:00 LT on August 18 to 08:00 LT on August 19, heavy to torrential rain affected Chengdu, Zigong and other parts of Sichuan, with localized very heavy rainfall.
The Sichuan Provincial Geological Disaster Prevention and Control Headquarters Office recorded a maximum 24-hour total of 118 mm (4.65 inches) at Shulin Station in Group 6 of Shulin Village, Dongpo District, Meishan.
The provincial headquarters office attributed two geological disasters to the rainfall. One affected a road in Jiulong County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, which was subsequently reopened.
The second incident interrupted National Highway G350 in Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. Traffic controls remained in place while clearance work continued.
Sichuan Province was hit by widespread torrential rains, and the Minjiang River in Pengshan County experienced flooding. pic.twitter.com/7l9GKo9Ht3
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) August 18, 2026
By 07:00 LT on August 19, authorities had pre-emptively relocated 21 784 people from geohazard-prone areas in 64 counties across 13 prefecture-level jurisdictions during the preceding 24 hours.
The areas with the most evacuations included 7 346 people in Liangshan, 3 174 in Mianyang and 2 400 in Ya’an.
The provincial office said Sichuan had recorded 1 102 694 pre-emptive relocations since the start of the flood season, as of August 19.
Sichuan activated a Level IV flood-control emergency response at 17:00 LT (09:00 UTC) on August 17. The provincial Department of Water Resources simultaneously activated a Level IV flood-disaster defense response.
The provincial flood-control response was terminated at 10:00 LT (02:00 UTC) on August 19 after authorities reviewed rainfall, river conditions and projected trends. Departments were instructed to continue their assigned flood-prevention work.
At 18:00 LT (10:00 UTC) on August 19, the Ministry of Water Resources and China Meteorological Administration issued a yellow flash-flood disaster meteorological warning valid from 20:00 LT (12:00 UTC) on August 19 to 20:00 LT (12:00 UTC) on August 20.
Parts of central Sichuan were within the blue risk area, while smaller areas were placed under the yellow category, indicating a higher probability of flash-flood development. The warning represented forecast risk and did not confirm that flash flooding had occurred.
In a separate incident at about 17:30 LT (09:30 UTC) on August 18, a rooftop parapet wall collapsed during a university-admission banquet at a private residence in Xinbao Village, Dongdi Town, Changning County.
The Changning County Emergency Management Bureau said rainwater had accumulated on a temporary canopy, increasing the load on ropes attached to the wall. Three people died at the scene, and two died after being taken to hospital.
Another 17 people were receiving hospital treatment. Authorities were continuing medical treatment and follow-up work as of August 19.
References:
1 Strong rainfall triggers two geological disasters in Sichuan; 21 784 people moved from risk areas — CNR — August 19, 2026
2 Yellow flash-flood disaster meteorological warning — NMC — 10:00 UTC on August 19, 2026
3 Sichuan activates Level IV flood-control response — Xinhua — August 17, 2026
4 Changning university-admission banquet accident kills 5 — Xinhua — August 19, 2026
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
