Ten people have been confirmed dead after a bus went missing on Sunday in China’s northern Shanxi province, as heavy rain lashed the region this week, state media reported on Wednesday. Torrential rain and floods across vast areas of northern China have resulted in at least 48 fatalities and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands this week.
Dozens of roads were closed, villages experienced widespread power outages, and homes were submerged due to the intense rainstorms. The 10 deceased individuals were passengers on a bus that disappeared on Sunday morning in the city of Datong, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Search efforts are ongoing for four individuals who remain missing. Xinhua had previously reported on Sunday that one body was recovered downstream in the affected area.
Impact Across Provinces and Increasing Extreme Weather Risks
In Shanghai, China, people were seen using umbrellas and raincoats to shield themselves from heavy rain and strong winds after Tropical Storm Co-May made landfall in a nearby city on July 30, 2025. The severe downpour has claimed 30 lives in Beijing, with the highest death toll recorded in Miyun, a northeastern suburb. Additionally, in Hebei province, which encircles the capital, a landslide in a village killed eight people, with four still missing, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday.
Natural disasters are a common occurrence across China, particularly during the summer months when some regions face heavy rainfall while others endure scorching heat. China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, which scientists assert drive climate change and contribute to making extreme weather events more frequent and intense. Despite this, China is also a global leader in renewable energy and aims to achieve carbon neutrality for its massive economy by 2060.
