Heavy rains trigger waterlogging, road damage in central, SW China

Persistent heavy rain lashed central and southwest China from Saturday through Monday morning, causing urban waterlogging, road damage and landslides.

In Jingzhou City, central China's Hubei Province, the downtown area and nine other villages and townships recorded extremely heavy rainfall between 8 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday, with the highest reading of 357.3 mm in Changhe Village, Gong'an County.

In response, the city government activated an emergency response for urban waterlogging on Monday morning and suspended classes, work, production, transportation and business activities in the downtown area.

In central China's Hunan Province, the rain destroyed a temporary road leading to a highway under construction in Qianling Town, Baojing County, stranding more than 300 people. Multiple departments, including transportation and emergency management, were mobilized to carry out emergency repairs. As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, the repair work was completed, and the road was reopened.

Heavy rain also triggered a landslide on a mountainous road in Yunyang County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, on Sunday afternoon, cutting off traffic. Heavy machinery was deployed on Monday morning, but persistent rain has delayed full clearance. Rescue workers said major repairs will begin after the rain eases and geological conditions stabilize.