Severe flooding in eastern and southern China commenced in late May and rapidly escalated, causing significant disruption in various provinces. Torrential rains drenched large regions, swelling rivers beyond their banks and inundating cities and rural areas alike. The disaster prompted immediate evacuations, with approximately 1.3 million individuals forced to leave their homes for safety. Beyond the human impact, agriculture suffered severely, with countless acres of crops destroyed, threatening food security in the affected regions.

Government agencies launched rescue operations, providing shelter and assistance to displaced populations. Local authorities struggled to cope with the scale of the flooding, revealing weaknesses in existing infrastructure and highlighting the need for improved flood management systems. The deluge not only caused severe short-term effects, including 148 reported fatalities, but also initiated long-term discussions on water policy and climate resilience in China, as the country prepared for potential future flooding events.

The aftermath saw increased attention on emergency preparedness, urban planning, and the construction of more robust drainage and water management systems. As the nation worked to recover from this disaster, efforts were made to learn from the events that unfolded, to foster resilience against future natural disasters, which are projected to become more frequent due to climate change.