Severe Floods and Mudslides Devastate Yunnan Province, Stranding Tourists and Destroying Infrastructure

Screenshot of rain water damaging homes

Torrential rain in southwestern China’s Yunnan province triggered flash floods and mudslides over the long holiday weekend, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and stranding hundreds of tourists. While no casualties were reported, more than 4,800 residents in Gongshan County were affected, with roughly one-third forced to evacuate urgently.

Over 600 tourists visiting remote scenic spots in the mountainous region were trapped on Saturday due to impassable roads and flood-related disruptions. By Sunday, 500 of them had been rescued. Key travel routes to popular hiking destinations such as Bingzhongluo Town and Yubeng Village in neighboring Deqin County were completely cut off, isolating the areas from emergency services.

Floodwaters from the Dulong River surged to record levels, according to data from a local hydrological monitoring station. In a dramatic moment captured on video, a four-storey building situated along the riverbank—already evacuated—collapsed into the torrent, vanishing amid a cloud of dust.

The downpour, which lasted for 12 hours, also knocked out power supplies across several affected areas. Emergency repair crews have been deployed to restore damaged roads and electricity lines, according to local officials.

The local meteorological bureau had issued a red alert—the highest level in China's four-tier warning system—on Friday night in anticipation of the heavy rainfall. The alert was downgraded to yellow by Saturday morning as conditions began to stabilize.

Authorities continue to monitor weather patterns as recovery and rescue operations remain ongoing in one of China’s most rugged and remote regions.