China Rallies Nationwide Flood‑Prevention and Rescue Efforts After Deadly Gansu Flash Floods】
A string of relentless thunderstorms that began on Aug. 7 has turned the remote valleys of Yuzhong County, on the outskirts of Lanzhou in Gansu Province, into a scene of urgent rescue operations. By the afternoon of Aug. 8, local officials confirmed ten deaths and 33 people still missing, prompting an outpouring of national attention and a flurry of directives from China’s top leadership. Central to the response is a phrase that has been echoed across state television, social media and official communiqués: “做好防汛救灾各项工作.” Translated loosely as “do a good job in flood prevention, emergency rescue and disaster relief,” the slogan has become a rallying cry for a nation confronting one of its most perilous weather windows of the year.
8 August 2025
President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang both issued urgent instructions within hours of the first reports, underscoring the need to locate missing persons, evacuate vulnerable residents, restore broken communications and reopen transport arteries. Xi’s message, delivered in the usual concise cadence of a senior leader, stressed that “saving lives and protecting property must be our top priority,” and warned that complacency could turn a tragic event into an even larger disaster. Li Qiang added that the incident highlighted “the necessity of strengthening risk forecasting, early‑warning mechanisms and the rapid rotation of emergency duty shifts throughout the flood season.”
The timing of the disaster is no coincidence. In China the period of late July through early August—known colloquially as “七下八上,” or “seven lows and eight highs”—has traditionally marked the height of the country’s flood season. Meteorological data from the China Meteorological Administration show that the region has been experiencing a sustained bout of heavy rainfall, with some stations recording more than 200 mm of rain in a 24‑hour span. Climate scientists have warned that such extremes are becoming more common as global warming intensifies the water cycle, and the Gansu flash flood has been cited as a stark reminder of that trend.
The phrase “做好防汛救灾各项工作” is not merely a slogan; it encapsulates a multi‑layered framework that stretches from the highest echelons of the Communist Party to the ordinary citizen. At the apex stands the Central Committee, with Xi Jinping at its core, tasked with issuing the overarching policy direction. The State Council, through its water‑administrative department, coordinates the national flood‑control strategy, managing basin‑wide agencies for major rivers and lakes. The Ministry of Emergency Management—a relatively new body created in 2018 to centralise disaster response—has rolled out an updated “National Flood Control and Drought Relief Emergency Plan,” which clarifies command structures, delineates responsibilities, and sets out a timeline for early warnings, emergency actions and post‑disaster recovery.
Local governments bear the brunt of implementation. Provincial and municipal officials in Gansu have been ordered to activate emergency command centres, organise on‑the‑ground rescue teams, and ensure that displaced families receive food, shelter and medical care. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, represented by Party Secretary Han Jun, is tasked with safeguarding crops, deploying flood‑resistant seed varieties and providing relief to farmers whose fields have been inundated. Meanwhile, the China Meteorological Administration continues to issue real‑time forecasts, warning neighbouring provinces of potential downstream flooding.
The urgency of the central command has also spurred a surge in private‑sector involvement. Companies such as the JD Group Public Welfare Foundation have mobilised relief supplies, while manufacturers of flood‑monitoring equipment and rescue vehicles report a spike in orders as provinces scramble to bolster their technical capabilities. Insurance firms are likewise re‑examining their flood‑risk models, anticipating a likely rise in demand for flood coverage as public awareness of the hazard grows.
Beyond the logistical and economic dimensions, the incident has touched a social chord. The swift dissemination of the phrase on platforms like Weibo has turned it into a touchstone for collective responsibility. Official posts—some quoting Xi’s exact wording—have been shared tens of thousands of times, with users posting messages of support for rescue crews and calls for vigilance in the coming weeks. While the online discourse has been largely aligned with state narratives, there is an undercurrent of anxiety among residents of flood‑prone areas, many of whom have endured similar disasters in previous years. Mental‑health experts warn that the trauma of sudden loss, combined with the looming threat of additional storms, could exacerbate community stress unless addressed through sustained counselling and public‑health initiatives.
The political stakes of the situation are unmistakable. Effective disaster management has long been a barometer of governmental legitimacy in China, where social stability is a cornerstone of policy. A well‑coordinated response can reinforce public trust in the Party’s ability to protect its citizens, while any perceived failure—delayed rescues, inadequate shelter, or mishandling of relief funds—could fuel criticism. Conversely, the central leadership’s direct involvement signals an intention to keep the issue high on the national agenda, ensuring that budget allocations for flood‑control infrastructure, such as dams, levees and urban drainage upgrades, remain robust.
International observers are also watching the developments, noting that China’s approach to flood mitigation may offer lessons for other nations grappling with climate‑induced extreme weather. The country’s massive investments in early‑warning technology, satellite monitoring and large‑scale water‑resource management have positioned it as a leader in the field, though questions linger about the environmental impact of some infrastructure projects, especially large dams, and how they intersect with vulnerable ecosystems.
As the rain eases and rescue teams continue to search for the missing, the phrase “做好防汛救灾各项工作” will likely remain at the forefront of public discourse, a concise articulation of an expansive, coordinated effort that spans ministries, provinces, private firms and ordinary citizens. In the days ahead, the true measure of that effort will be seen not only in the number of bodies recovered or homes rebuilt, but in the resilience of communities that, fortified by lessons learned, can better withstand the inevitable surges of water that a warming planet brings.
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