Four people died and six were missing after a pick-up truck plunged into a river in southern China’s Guangxi region as the country continued to grapple with the first large-scale and prolonged rainfall event of 2026.
Authorities activated an emergency flood response in Guangdong province in the south and Guizhou in the southwest after the weather department forecast persistent heavy rain from 15 to 19 May.
They warned that more downpours were likely after torrential rain lashed central and eastern China over the weekend, affecting provinces like Jiangxi and Hunan.
The tragedy in Guangxi occurred on Saturday when the truck, carrying 15 workers to a sweet potato farm, plunged into a river while crossing a low bridge in the Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, state broadcaster CCTV reported, adding that five people were rescued.
China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has sent a work team to Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to assist and guide search and rescue efforts after a vehicle plunged into a river in Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, the Ministry of Emergency Management said… pic.twitter.com/NCWeba81Ts
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) May 17, 2026
More than 700 rescue workers equipped with underwater sonar devices, dinghies and drones were involved in a large-scale search operation to locate the missing passengers and recover the truck.
The Chinese emergency management ministry said that “people first and life first” remained the guiding principle of the rescue effort and urged all departments to strengthen measures to prevent rain-related accidents.
The heavy rain system was expected to gradually move eastward and southward across China over the next three days, according to the National Meteorological Centre, which warned of heightened risks of mountain torrents, flooding in small and medium-sized rivers, and severe urban waterlogging.
Jingzhou city in central Hubei province suspended work and business activities as part of its flood emergency response.
Authorities also closed all tourist attractions and ordered schools to suspend outdoor classes.
Footage aired by CCTV showed rescuers navigating the submerged streets of the city by boat.
In nearby Yichang, according to Hubei Daily, rainfall over the weekend broke a 36-year record.
In April, a rare rainstorm triggered severe flooding in the southern city of Qinzhou, forcing more than 200 residents to evacuate.
