Typhoon Bavi triggers severe floods in northern China, stranding thousands

Severe flooding in China's northern Hebei province and northeastern Liaoning Province has submerged roads and swept away vehicles, following the impact of Typhoon Bavi, the most powerful storm to hit mainland China this year. Videos circulating on social media platforms show people swimming and navigating flooded streets on paddleboards in neighbourhoods across the affected areas.

In Kuancheng, a county in Hebei with a population of about 240,000, water levels on roads exceeded two metres, according to a resident's account broadcast by local official media. The county lies on the banks of the Luan River. Several cars were filmed colliding as they were carried by strong currents down waterlogged roads.

Authorities warned that Typhoon Bavi would bring torrential rain to the provinces of Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Anhui, exacerbating flood risks in areas already saturated by earlier downpours. State broadcaster CCTV reported that around 1,800 villagers in Kuancheng were stranded. Officials stated that relocating and resettling residents was their top priority.

In Liaoning, authorities raised a red alert for flash floods, indicating very high risks. Hebei authorities issued a statement on WeChat saying that during a red alert for heavy rain, all work stoppages, business closures, and gatherings must be fully implemented. Videos on the Chinese social media platform RedNote (known locally as Xiaohongshu) showed a person swimming backstroke down a street in Shenyang, Liaoning, where rows of parked cars were almost entirely submerged. Another clip showed someone standing on a paddleboard to navigate flooded streets.

China Railway announced on Monday that many trains in Shenyang have been suspended, with more than 30 railway sections affected. Schools have also been closed across many areas, including the northeastern province of Jilin. The Central Meteorological Observatory, cited by CCTV, warned that some areas in northeastern China could experience thunderstorms or hailstorms of Force 8 or above. In parts of central and northern Jiangsu, thunderstorm winds of level 10 or above were forecast, with maximum winds reaching Force 11 (up to 117 km/h), and tornadoes possible locally. According to China's Ministry of Water Resources, 46 rivers nationwide are experiencing flooding above warning levels.