Heavy rainfall and strong winds have swept across northeast China's Liaoning Province since Saturday, prompting widespread flood warnings and the evacuation of over 24,000 residents as rivers rise and infrastructure is strained by the downpours.
From Saturday morning, persistent moderate-to-heavy rain hit western and central-northern Liaoning, with some areas, such as Shenyang, Chaoyang, and Huludao, recording torrential downpours. In Suizhong County, Huludao, several towns recorded rainfall exceeding 120 mm by 18:00 on Saturday.
Local reservoirs increased their discharge flow in advance to create buffer capacity, and rising water levels in the Shihe River prompted authorities to temporarily close affected rural roads and bridges.
As the heavy rain shifted north, Shenyang, the provincial capital, was hit by widespread downpours from Saturday evening onwards. Short-term intense rains caused temporary flooding on low-lying roads and underpasses, with many urban roads subject to traffic redirection. Shenyang preemptively activated its urban flood response, putting over 3,500 emergency personnel on full alert. The province raised its flood response level, and by 06:00 on Sunday, a total of 24,214 people had been relocated to safety.
According to the Liaoning Water Resources Department, province-wide average rainfall reached 13.1 mm between 16:00 on Saturday and 06:00 on Sunday, with local accumulations up to 125.2 mm and hourly peaks of 61.8 mm. Several rivers saw rising water levels, while 108 mines in Chaoyang halted operations and 746 workers were evacuated.
Starting Sunday, railway authorities implemented temporary suspensions on segments of key lines due to the extreme weather.
Torrential rains hit Liaoning, trigger mass evacuations
