At least ten killed as torrential rains batter southern, central China

Key points

• “Torrential rain across southern and central China triggered widespread flooding on Tuesday (May 19, 2026), killing at least ​10 people, closing schools and businesses, and disrupting transport ⁠and power supplies,” authorities said.
• China's weather agency said areas in Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan faced a high risk of rain-related disasters, including landslips, flash floods and severe urban flooding and waterlogging.
• Authorities said they were launching emergency responses in several affected areas.
• Many residents in Jingzhou, a city in central Hubei, were knee-deep in ⁠water and able to catch fish swimming in ⁠the streets, according to images posted on Chinese video platform Douyin.
• Some cars were nearly completely submerged on roads surrounded by residential and commercial buildings.