China floods kill 13 as torrential rains sweep through the north, leaving widespread destruction and forcing emergency rescues. Officials in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, reported three new deaths on Tuesday, raising the toll from recent storms to 13. Rescuers continue to search for five missing people along rivers and flooded roads.
On Monday, Ordos received 204 mm of rain in less than 24 hours, more than double the normal August average. The storm flooded villages and fields, while three people disappeared near the Yellow River about 70 km from the city. Weather forecasters warned that this storm was only the first of three expected during the week.
Just days earlier, floods in Bayannur underlined the danger. A river burst its banks and swept away 13 campers in the grasslands. Ten people died, one person survived, and two remain missing. The disaster showed how quickly extreme weather can devastate rural communities living near rivers and plains.
The threat extends beyond villages. Ordos lies near Baotou, a major rare earth hub, and heavy rains now put its infrastructure at risk. Rescue workers keep combing through flood zones, but hopes of finding survivors are fading as waters remain high.
Experts directly link these severe floods to climate change. They argue that East Asian monsoon rains have stalled over northern and southern China, producing unusually heavy downpours. As a result, outdated flood defenses face collapse, and officials warn that further storms could displace millions and cause economic losses worth billions. With two more downpours expected in the coming days, northern China remains on high alert.
