Largest Flood Peak Passes Yangtze’s Fuling Section
The largest flood peak of the year since the flood season began successfully passed through the Fuling section of the Yangtze River in Chongqing on August 6, according to Xinhua News Agency. Water levels in the section have begun to slowly recede, and navigation authorities are continuously tracking conditions to ensure safe passage during the flood season.
The flood event was triggered by continuous heavy rainfall in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, which affected the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers in Chongqing from August 1-4. During this period, the Cuntan hydrological station recorded a cumulative water level rise of approximately 7.5 meters, setting a new record for this year’s flood season, as reported by Xinhua’s comprehensive flood prevention coverage.
A Challenging Flood Season
China’s 2026 flood season began on March 15, 17 days earlier than the long-term average of April 1. The Ministry of Water Resources had predicted that the Yangtze and Haihe river basins could experience major floods due to the El Niño event, with the main flood season (June-August) forecast to have more flooding than drought. The Yangtze River basin saw 10-50% more runoff than average levels, according to Jiemian News.
By late May, 146 rivers across 18 provinces had experienced flooding above warning levels, 50% more than the five-year average. The early onset and intensified rainfall patterns set the stage for a particularly active flood season.
Chongqing’s Coordinated Response
The Chongqing Maritime Safety Administration announced on August 4 that the largest flood of the year had passed smoothly through Chongqing waters, with maritime authorities implementing 24-hour dynamic monitoring. During the flood peak passage, authorities inspected over 70 anchored vessels and video-checked 716 key vessels, achieving zero incidents and zero accidents in the area.
Chongqing has also been proactive in flood prevention infrastructure. The city conducted safety inspections of all 3,075 reservoirs across the municipality, with 94 dangerous reservoirs inspected from July 7-10 and 71 issues identified for correction by the end of August. All dangerous reservoirs now have online video monitoring coverage, according to Chongqing News.
The city’s flood prevention efforts include satellite cloud monitoring, flood information systems, and a “meteorology + water resources + railway” three-way coordination mechanism, combining technological and human resources to safeguard communities along the river.
Regional Flood Impact
The flood event is part of a broader national flood situation affecting multiple provinces. The Jialing River in Nanchong, Sichuan, experienced its largest flood peak of the year on August 3, with water levels reaching 265.86 meters (about 4 meters above normal) and flow rates of 8,450 cubic meters per second, as reported by CCTV News.
In Zhongxian County, Chongqing, heavy rain from August 2 led to the evacuation of 710 households (1,336 people) by August 5. The Wanzhou District also experienced a hillside collapse on August 4-5, leading to the evacuation of 1,617 people from 623 households after 500 cubic meters of rock and soil fell.
Further north, the Songhua River in Heilongjiang experienced its 2026 No. 1 flood, with the Jiamusi station reaching 80.37 meters (0.88 meters above warning level). Nearly 30,000 emergency personnel were deployed in the province, according to China Youth Daily. Shaanxi also suspended multiple railway lines due to heavy rainfall, while Zhejiang activated maritime typhoon emergency response as Typhoon “White Dolphin” (No. 13) approached the East China Sea.
What to Watch
As the flood peak recedes from the Fuling section, authorities remain vigilant. The navigation department is dynamically optimizing deployment to ensure safe and smooth navigation during the remainder of the flood season. With the main flood season continuing through August, officials across multiple provinces are maintaining heightened monitoring and preparedness.
The successful passage of this year’s largest flood peak through Chongqing demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated flood management strategies, but the broader national flood situation remains fluid. Communities along the Yangtze and its tributaries will continue to face challenges as the season progresses, and authorities are urging continued vigilance in the weeks ahead.