Heilongjiang Declares First Flood of 2026 as Waters Rise

Heilongjiang province experienced its first numbered flood of 2026 when the Tongjiang (Heilongjiang) water level station on the main stream of the Heilongjiang River reached the warning level of 54.06 meters at 18:00 on August 4, according to Xinhua News Agency. The flood was officially designated as “Heilongjiang 2026 No. 1 Flood” by the Songliao Water Resources Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, prompting authorities to urge all flood control departments, relevant units along the river, and the public to strengthen prevention efforts and pay attention to avoiding danger.

A Regional Flooding Crisis

The Heilongjiang flood designation comes amid a broader regional flooding crisis gripping Northeast China. Just two days earlier, on August 2, the Songhua River experienced its own 2026 No. 1 Flood when the Jiamusi hydrological station reached warning level at 03:54. The Songhua River flood peak subsequently arrived at the Jiamusi station at 08:00 on August 4, with a peak water level of 80.37 meters — 0.88 meters above the warning level and 0.98 meters below the guaranteed safety level, as China Military Online reported.

The flooding has been driven by persistent heavy rainfall since late July, attributed to a strong subtropical high pressure system positioned further north than usual. The China Weather Network noted that precipitation in Heilongjiang has been significantly above normal for the period, with the counties of Mulan and Yanshou both breaking their all-time single-day rainfall records.

Emergency Response and Evacuations

China’s Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level IV flood defense emergency response in Heilongjiang province on August 1 — the lowest level in China’s four-tier flood control system — as heavy rainfall and potential flooding were expected across the northeastern region, China Daily reported. Three working groups from the ministry were deployed to Heilongjiang to support frontline flood prevention efforts.

In Jiamusi City, located at the confluence of the Songhua and Heilongjiang river systems, authorities escalated to a Level III flood control emergency response, mobilizing nearly 30,000 flood control personnel for 24-hour on-duty shifts. The city organized evacuations across 14 villages and townships, moving 1,164 people out of flood-stricken areas in advance — 685 to centralized resettlement and 479 to stay with relatives or friends.

At the Qunying Village resettlement point in Ping’an Township, evacuated villager Liang Hongchen described the coordinated effort: “The village notified us to evacuate, we simply packed some clothes and came over. Everyone cooperated well, and food and accommodation are guaranteed here.” Ping’an Township Mayor Liu Li emphasized the urgency of the operation: “Personnel evacuation is the most important thing — it must be completed before the flood peak arrives.”

Levee defense has been equally intensive. The city has reinforced or built up 48.13 kilometers of levees, conducted more than 33,000 person-trips of levee inspection patrols, and stacked over 11,000 sandbags at weak points in Ping’an Township alone. Senior Engineer Zhang Xuewen of the Jiamusi Suburban Water Affairs Bureau stressed the technical challenges: “During high-water level operation, inspection cannot only look at the top of the levee, but must also focus on the back slope, levee foot, and structures crossing the levee.”

Broader National Impact

The flooding in Heilongjiang is part of a wider national pattern of extreme weather. As of 09:00 on August 4, sixteen rivers across China were experiencing floods above warning levels, according to the Ministry of Water Resources, as Bastille Post Global reported. Other affected areas include Chongqing, where 17 districts and counties experienced rainstorms with maximum cumulative rainfall reaching 250 millimeters, and Shaanxi, where the Xun River was at risk of exceeding warning levels.

The National Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management maintained a Level IV flood emergency response for Heilongjiang as of August 4, according to iqilu.com. Meanwhile, 11,000 central relief items — including blankets, quilts, and family emergency kits — have been delivered to Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces to support affected residents.

What to Watch

As flood peaks continue to move downstream, Tongjiang City — where the flood was officially numbered — is preparing for the Songhua River flood peak expected on August 8 and the Heilongjiang River flood peak expected on August 9. As of 09:00 on August 4, the real-time water level at the Songhua River in Tongjiang was 54.81 meters (0.05 meters below warning level), while the Heilongjiang River stood at 53.95 meters (0.11 meters below warning level).

Jiamusi Emergency Management Bureau Deputy Director Liu Baoguo noted that while the flood peak of the Songhua River main stream is passing through the urban area smoothly, “the river water remains at high levels.” With water levels expected to remain elevated in the coming days and additional rainfall forecast, authorities are maintaining round-the-clock vigilance along the region’s river systems.