Gansu Longnan Evacuates 27,000+ Amid Severe Flooding

More than 27,000 people have been evacuated from the mountainous city of Longnan in China’s northwestern Gansu Province after five days of torrential rainfall triggered landslides, flash floods, and mudslides, according to Xinhua News. The city activated a Level II flood control emergency response — the second-highest tier in China’s emergency system — on July 31 as the situation deteriorated.

Unprecedented Rainfall and Rapid Escalation

From July 29 to August 2, widespread heavy to torrential rain swept across Longnan’s eastern and southern districts, with some areas experiencing extreme downpours exceeding 100 millimeters of cumulative rainfall. The Longnan Meteorological Station upgraded its rainstorm warning from yellow to red early on July 30, signaling imminent danger. As Guancha.cn reported via Tencent News, officials warned that townships including Yuhe, Wuma, and Fengxiang in Wudu District could see rainfall exceeding 100mm, posing risks of river flooding, mountain torrents, landslides, and urban waterlogging.

The sustained precipitation triggered a cascade of secondary disasters across the region’s steep terrain, where the Qinling Mountains meet the Loess Plateau. Landslides blocked sections of Provincial Road S206, damaged power lines in Yuhe Town, and prompted structural inspections of bridges along the Lanhai Expressway.

Coordinated Emergency Response

Local authorities moved swiftly to protect residents. On the morning of July 31, Longnan activated its Level II flood control emergency response, deploying officials across all counties and districts for grid-based hazard inspections and systematic evacuation efforts. Township and village cadres implemented a “door-knocking action” — going door-to-door to ensure residents in high-risk geological areas were relocated to safety.

By the morning of August 1, the city had cumulatively evacuated over 27,000 people, including 7,089 households (18,134 individuals) relocated for emergency avoidance, according to Beijing Daily. Authorities also closed 718 outdoor construction sites and relocated 9,189 construction workers from vulnerable areas. The same figures were corroborated by Yicai and Gansu Economic Daily, both citing CCTV News.

Earlier data from China News Service showed that by noon on July 31, more than 14,000 residents had already been safely evacuated through centralized resettlement and nearby shelter arrangements, reflecting the rapid escalation of the emergency.

Infrastructure Repairs Underway

As rainfall persisted, emergency crews worked around the clock to restore critical infrastructure. Road rescue teams cleared landslide debris from Provincial Road S206 near Fengxiang Township, while engineers conducted structural inspections of a double-deck high-rise bridge on the Lanhai Expressway’s Wuguan section. Power repair crews worked to restore damaged electrical lines in Fengping Village, Yuhe Town.

Xinhua photographers documented these efforts, capturing images of cadres and residents clearing a small landslide in Fanjiaping Village, as well as township officials and village grid workers conducting hazard assessments at geological risk points in Caoping Village, according to Banyuetan.

A Region Recurrently Vulnerable

Longnan’s geography makes it particularly susceptible to flood-related disasters. Located where the Qinling Mountains meet the Loess Plateau, the region’s steep slopes, deep valleys, and complex geological conditions create ideal conditions for landslides and mudslides during heavy rainfall events. This latest event follows a pattern of increasingly frequent and intense flooding: the city experienced significant floods in July 2024, a devastating rainstorm in July 2025 that brought over 200mm of rainfall to many areas, and now this July 2026 event.

The broader 2026 flood season has been notable for its severity in northern China. The Ministry of Water Resources has characterized the season as featuring “northern flooding being more severe, with more frequent and heavier extreme local rainstorms.” Eleven rivers across China exceeded warning levels from July 29-30, including Gansu’s Shule River and Dang River.

What to Watch For

As of the latest reports, flood control and disaster relief operations remain fully engaged across Longnan. Authorities continue to monitor rainfall forecasts, conduct hazard inspections, and restore damaged infrastructure. The ongoing nature of the rainfall means the situation could evolve, and questions remain about the full extent of economic losses and infrastructure damage once the waters recede.

The effectiveness of the multi-layered response — from early meteorological warnings to coordinated evacuation efforts at local and provincial levels — will be closely examined as climate patterns suggest such extreme weather events may become more frequent in the region.