Update 2026-05-20 (2): According to the latest reports on Wednesday (20 May), the number of missing persons following heavy rainfall and flooding across parts of central and southern China has risen to multiple cases. Weather forecasts indicated that continued rainfall was expected in the coming days.
Update 2026-05-20 (1): As of Tuesday (18 May), severe weather left multiple people dead and several others missing, prompting evacuations and search-and-rescue operations in parts of the Central and Southwest parts of the country, including Guizhou, Hubei, and Hunan. Reportedly, Guiding County in Guizhou was hit by flooding and landslides caused by heavy downpours, while torrential rainfall lashed the Youshui River basin in Xuan’en County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei. The downpours triggered flash floods and caused the river to overflow into Baishuihe village, a low-lying area.