Flash Flood in Northern China Kills Eight

A sudden flash flood swept through a campsite in Inner Mongolia late Saturday night, killing at least eight people and leaving four others missing. The disaster unfolded near Bayannur city, a key agricultural center in northern China, when the banks of a river burst around 10 p.m., washing away a group of 13 campers. Only one person has been rescued so far.

The incident marks another blow in a summer of relentless weather extremes across China. Since July, the country has been battered by unusually heavy rainfall, with the East Asian monsoon lingering over both northern and southern regions. The shifting weather patterns have triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and economic disruption.

Bayannur, known for its grain and oil production as well as sheep farming, now faces mounting challenges as floodwaters threaten infrastructure and livelihoods. Rescue operations are underway, but officials warn that continued rainfall could hamper efforts to locate the missing.

Elsewhere in China, the southern province of Hainan lifted a months-long fishing suspension after persistent rain had kept vessels docked. The move comes amid broader concerns over agricultural stability and food supply as extreme weather disrupts rural economies.

The flash flood in Inner Mongolia follows last month’s deadly downpour in Beijing, which claimed at least 44 lives and displaced over 70,000 residents. With climate volatility intensifying, authorities are bracing for further emergencies and escalating costs in disaster response.