Videos on social media showed severe floods in the provinces of Hebei in northern China and Liaoning in the northeast, submerging roads and sweeping away cars, while people were swimming and riding paddleboards in neighborhood streets.

Local state media quoted a resident as saying that water levels rose to more than two meters on roads in Kuancheng County, Hebei Province.

Kuancheng has a population of about 240,000 and is located on the banks of the Luan River.

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The floods occurred after Typhoon Bavi, the strongest typhoon to hit mainland China this year, bringing heavy rain to the eastern coast and strong winds to densely populated cities in the region, testing the country's ability to handle extreme weather conditions.

A person rides an electric bicycle through a flooded road after heavy rain caused by Typhoon Bavi in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, July 12, 2026 - Reuters

Authorities warned that the typhoon would bring heavy rain to the provinces of Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Anhui, exacerbating flood risks in areas already saturated by previous heavy rains.

China Central Television (CCTV) reported that about 1,800 villagers in Kuancheng were cut off, while authorities emphasized that evacuations and resettlement are top priorities.

Authorities in Liaoning issued a red alert for floods and extremely severe risks.

China Railway announced on Monday the suspension of many trains in Shenyang, and classes were suspended in many areas including Jilin Province in the northeast.

The television quoted the Central Meteorological Administration as saying that some areas in northeastern China would experience thunderstorms or hailstorms of level 8 or higher.

The television said: 'In some areas of central and northern Jiangsu, thunderstorms will cause winds of level 10 or higher, with maximum wind speeds reaching level 11 or higher, and local tornadoes may occur.'

Wind speeds of level 11 can reach 117 kilometers per hour.

China's State Planning Commission allocated 30 million yuan ($4.42 million) for relief aid to the region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for intensifying rescue efforts in the wake of a wave of weather disasters that hit the country in the past few days.

Xinhua reported that authorities sent national rescue teams to support local efforts.