Reuters reports extreme floods and landslides hit eastern China during Storm Danas

Storm Danas Unleashes Catastrophic Floods and Landslides Across Eastern China
1. Storm Danas Leaves Trail of Destruction Across Coastal and Inland Regions
In early July 2025, Storm Danas barreled into eastern China, bringing with it an onslaught of heavy rainfall, deadly landslides, and widespread flooding that paralyzed several provinces. Though initially classified as a severe tropical storm, Danas quickly escalated in intensity due to unusually warm sea surface temperatures, feeding moisture into its swirling system. By the time it made landfall near Fujian Province, the storm had already disrupted maritime shipping lanes and triggered emergency weather alerts across much of eastern and southern China.

Torrential rain blanketed cities including Fuzhou, Ningde, and Wenzhou, with some areas recording more than 300 mm (nearly 12 inches) of rainfall within a 36 hour period. The relentless downpour overwhelmed drainage systems and rivers, causing flash floods that submerged highways, homes, and rail tracks. As waters rapidly rose, thousands of residents were forced to evacuate to government designated shelters. The Ministry of Emergency Management reported that over 80,000 people were directly affected within the first three days of landfall, with damage estimates still being calculated.

2. Urban Infrastructure Collapses Under Climate Strain
The urban centers of eastern China, known for their rapid industrial growth and dense populations, faced significant infrastructure failures as Danas hit. In Xiamen and Fuzhou, newly built residential districts found themselves under water, exposing flaws in stormwater drainage planning. Power outages swept through multiple provinces as transformers short circuited in floodwaters and overhead lines were snapped by falling trees.

Several subway stations were inundated, causing city wide transportation shutdowns. Commuters trapped in underground trains were rescued after hours long efforts involving divers and emergency technicians. Bridges collapsed in rural Fujian, isolating entire villages and delaying the delivery of food, medicine, and fuel. The storm’s impact exposed the vulnerabilities of even modern Chinese cities to the scale and unpredictability of extreme weather events events that scientists have repeatedly warned will become more frequent due to climate change.

3. Landslides in Mountainous Zones Add to Toll
While the lowlands battled floodwaters, mountainous and hilly regions experienced deadly landslides. In parts of Zhejiang and northern Jiangxi, saturated soil gave way, collapsing hillsides onto homes and roads. In a particularly tragic incident in Yushan County, a midnight landslide buried an entire family of five under rubble. Rescue crews battled unstable terrain and heavy rain to recover survivors, but efforts were hindered by blocked access roads and ongoing rainfall.

The Ministry of Natural Resources issued over 40 high risk geological hazard warnings, instructing residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate immediately. In some rural communities, those warnings came too late due to poor mobile connectivity or language barriers among elderly villagers. The landslides have not only taken lives but also destroyed terraced farms, forests, and historic villages, causing long term economic disruption.

4. Agriculture and Industry Hit Hard
As Storm Danas swept inland, its destruction rippled through the country’s economic core. In Fujian and Zhejiang provinces major centers of electronic manufacturing and agriculture factory operations were brought to a halt. Assembly lines that power global smartphone and microchip supply chains went silent as industrial parks flooded or lost power.

At the same time, rice paddies, tea plantations, and vegetable farms were submerged. The timing was particularly unfortunate, coinciding with harvest season in many regions. Initial estimates suggest crop losses in the hundreds of millions of yuan, with further losses expected if post storm waterlogging persists. Local farmers have appealed to the central government for compensation and assistance with replanting once the waters recede.

5. Dual Threat Floods in the East, Heat in the West
While eastern China grappled with storm induced deluges, central and western provinces such as Hunan, Chongqing, and Henan faced the opposite problem oppressive heat. Temperatures soared above 41°C (106°F), pushing power grids to the brink and prompting health authorities to issue red alerts for heatstroke risk. The combination of extreme heat and high humidity led to a spike in emergency room visits, particularly among elderly and low income populations without access to air conditioning.

This stark contrast floods in the east, heatwaves in the west serves as a stark reminder of how climate change can create overlapping and compounding environmental crises. The Chinese Meteorological Administration has warned that such extremes will only intensify in coming years unless global emissions are curbed and urban resilience strategies are rapidly adopted.

6. Emergency Response and Humanitarian Efforts
China’s emergency management system quickly mobilized in response to Storm Danas. Over 25,000 emergency personnel, including soldiers, paramedics, and engineers, were dispatched to affected areas. Drones and helicopters were deployed to assess damage, deliver supplies, and identify people trapped in remote regions. Portable water purification units were sent to temporary shelters, which were rapidly established in local schools, stadiums, and government buildings.

Despite this large scale response, logistics proved challenging due to washed out roads and flooded train lines. Relief workers reported shortages of clean water, baby formula, and medical supplies in some areas. Citizens across China began donation campaigns online, pooling resources to help those affected. In a show of solidarity, residents of unaffected regions offered their homes as temporary housing for displaced families, facilitated by government platforms.

7. Scientists Urge Policy Overhaul as Climate Risks Mount
Meteorologists and climate scientists were quick to point out that Storm Danas reflects a troubling trend climate change is fueling stronger, wetter storms in East Asia. According to recent findings from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the region’s annual rainfall has increased by more than 8% over the past two decades, with storm related disasters accounting for a growing share of economic losses.

Experts are calling for urgent policy reforms, including the modernization of urban drainage systems, stricter building codes in landslide prone zones, and climate adaptive agriculture. Additionally, there is a push for better early warning systems and community education programs, especially in remote areas where communication infrastructure is weak. “We cannot treat these as one off disasters anymore,” said Dr. Liu Wen, a climate risk expert in Beijing. “We are now in the age of continuous climate emergencies.”

8. Looking Ahead Rebuilding Amid Uncertainty
As the storm system continues to dissipate over northern China, the process of recovery and rebuilding has only just begun. Provinces hit hardest will need months, if not years, to repair roads, restore businesses, and recover lost agricultural output. Meanwhile, the psychological impact on communities especially children, the elderly, and those who lost homes will linger well beyond the physical cleanup.

The central government has pledged a disaster relief package, including low interest reconstruction loans, subsidies for farmers, and special insurance payouts. But without a fundamental shift in how Chinese cities and rural regions prepare for such events, Storm Danas could be a warning shot for far worse disasters to come.

Conclusion
Storm Danas has made it painfully clear that China is entering a new era of climate vulnerability. As this latest disaster demonstrates, the country’s growing economic power cannot shield it from the wrath of increasingly volatile weather patterns. With scientific consensus aligning behind a future of intensified storms, extreme heat, and unpredictable rainfall, the challenge now lies in preparing communities to not only survive but adapt and thrive. The coming months will reveal if this storm serves as a catalyst for change or a footnote in an increasingly grim pattern of disaster.