Typhoon Bawit Triggers Mass Evacuations in Liaoning

More than 171,000 residents have been evacuated across Liaoning Province as the outer bands of Typhoon Bawit — the 9th typhoon of the 2026 season — unleashed record-breaking rainfall, forcing the complete shutdown of five major cities. Authorities activated emergency protocols across 13 cities and 84 counties as floodwaters rose rapidly throughout the night of July 12 and into July 13.

Extreme Rainfall and Widespread Flooding

The heavy rainfall began at 20:00 on July 12, with 13 weather stations in Shenyang recording what Chinese meteorological authorities classify as “extremely heavy rain” (特大暴雨). According to Xinhua News, the maximum cumulative rainfall reached 186.6 mm, with an hourly maximum of 74.4 mm, both recorded in Yujia Village, Liujianfang Town, Liaozhong District, Shenyang. The three highest rainfall totals were all in Shenyang: 290.5 mm in Chenghudong Street, 289.8 mm in Hunhewan Street, and 282.7 mm in Yujia Village.

CNR (Yangguang Net) reported that Shenyang, Fushun, Jinzhou, Tieling, and Panjin ordered a citywide suspension of classes, business operations, and work on July 13. Liaoyang partially followed suit, closing all schools, kindergartens, and training institutions on July 13-14. The Shenyang Meteorological Observatory issued a red rainstorm warning — the highest level — at 09:19 on July 13.

Mass Evacuations and Emergency Response

The Liaoning Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters reported that as of 06:00 on July 13, the province had evacuated 171,412 people. Fushun, a mountainous city particularly vulnerable to flash floods and landslides, accounted for the vast majority with 156,933 evacuees. Other cities reporting significant evacuations included Huludao (3,810), Chaoyang (3,319), and Shenyang (2,587), according to data compiled by Sina Finance from CCTV News.

Emergency response levels varied by severity: Fushun city and five of its counties activated Level 1 — the highest possible — while one city and 11 counties activated Level 2, and four cities with 32 counties activated Level 3. The provincial government deployed a multi-agency response involving the Water Resources Department, the Emergency Management Department, the Meteorological Bureau, and the Transportation Department.

Infrastructure Damage and River Risks

The flooding has already caused significant infrastructure damage. According to a report from Tencent News / Jiupai News, citing Liaoning Release, two sections of national and provincial highways were closed, along with 23 sections of rural roads, 18 of which were proactively shut down. In Chaoyang’s Lingyuan City, four townships were affected, with 4,337 people impacted, 303.33 hectares of crops damaged, and direct economic losses of 2.5866 million yuan.

River levels are rising dangerously. The Liaohe, Hunhe, Taizihe, and Puhe rivers all showed significant water level increases, with the Liaohe basin facing potential above-warning-level floods. The Liaoning Provincial Water Resources Department deployed reservoir and river defense operations, conducting flood forecasting and monitoring around the clock.

Typhoon Bawit: A Giant Storm

Typhoon Bawit formed over the Pacific on July 2 and rapidly intensified to super typhoon strength by July 4, maintaining that intensity for an unusually long 138 hours. As China News Service reported, the storm was described as a “giant typhoon” with a circulation diameter exceeding 1,500 km. It made landfall in Yuhuan, Zhejiang Province on July 11 at 23:20 as a Category 13 typhoon with winds of 40 m/s — the strongest typhoon to hit China in 2026. After landfall, its outer bands and residual moisture continued to channel northward, triggering the current crisis in Liaoning.

Forecast and Forward Look

The Liaoning Meteorological Observatory has issued an orange warning for heavy rain and severe convection, forecasting that from 07:00 July 13 to 20:00 July 14, central and southern Liaoning will experience extreme rainfall of 100-180 mm, with localized areas receiving 200-250 mm, up to 300-380 mm, and individual stations potentially exceeding 400 mm. Typhoon Bawit’s residual circulation is expected to continue affecting Northeast China through July 14-15.

This disaster follows catastrophic flooding in Guangxi earlier in July 2026, which claimed at least 26 lives. While no fatalities have been reported in Liaoning as of publication, the situation remains highly dynamic. The combination of already saturated ground, rising river levels, and continued rainfall poses ongoing risks of flash floods, landslides, and urban inundation across the region.