At least eight people have been killed and four remain missing after a sudden flash flood tore through northern China’s Inner Mongolia late Saturday night, state media reported. The disaster is the latest in a string of extreme monsoon events across East Asia that experts link to climate change.
The flood struck around 10 p.m. near Bayannur city, when riverbanks running through Inner Mongolia’s grasslands collapsed, sweeping away 13 campers. Bayannur is one of China key agricultural hubs, and the incident raises fresh concerns about how climate extremes may impact the nation’s food security.
Monsoon Fury Spreads Across China
The Inner Mongolia flood is not an isolated incident. Heavy rains and storms have disrupted life in multiple regions this season. In Beijing, infrastructure has been battered, while in Hainan, monsoon downpours coincided with the end of a long-standing fishing ban, leaving boats stranded in harbors.
Elsewhere, in Sichuan province, severe weather turned deadly when two people were killed during a local beer festival. These back-to-back disruptions highlight the widespread strain the monsoon is placing on communities and local economies.
Government Steps In With Relief Measures
China central government has already released 5.8 billion yuan in disaster relief funds since April to help stabilize affected areas. Officials are ramping up aid distribution, but the scale of losses from damaged farmland to stalled industries points to a mounting economic challenge.
Climate scientists warn that warmer air temperatures are fueling heavier rainfall and more frequent flash floods across East Asia. As the monsoon grows more erratic, both lives and livelihoods remain at risk, testing China’s preparedness and resilience.