The Ministry of Water Resources said China enters the 2026 "seven down, eight up" flood-control critical period from today. Since the start of the flood season, major rivers have recorded 25 numbered floods; 609 rivers exceeded warning levels—about 3

2026-07-16

The Ministry of Water Resources said China enters the 2026 "seven down, eight up" flood-control critical period from today. Since the start of the flood season, major rivers have recorded 25 numbered floods; 609 rivers exceeded warning levels—about 35% above the five-year average; 97 small-to-medium rivers surpassed guaranteed water levels; 14 rivers experienced their highest measured floods on record. Forecasts indicate multiple rainy zones in both north and south, flooding likely to outweigh drought, frequent/recurrent localized heavy rains, and strong typhoons tracking north into inland areas, leaving flood control under severe strain.