In early June 2020, heavy rains caused by the regional rainy season led to floods severely affecting large areas of southern China including the Yangtze basin and its tributaries.

[3] As of 13 August, the floods have affected 63.46 million people and caused a direct economic loss of 178.96 billion CNY, which are 12.7% and 15.5% higher than the 2015-2019 average, respectively.

Hu Xiao from the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) indicated that the rains were caused by increased vapors arising from the Indian and Pacific oceans.

[14] Many experts believe that climate change due to human activity contributed to the severity of the flooding, and such events may become more frequent in the future.

[15][16][17] The local governments in recent years had made steps to implement nature-based flood mitigation strategies like tree planting, sponge cities and floodplain restoration.

With the rapid increase of population in China and breakneck economic growth, a large number of lakes and other wetlands had been reclaimed into farmland or urban development.

[20][21] The serious shrinkage and disappearance of lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is an important reason for the aggravation of flood disasters.

[25] While the CMA indicated flood discharge started on 29 June, satellite images suggest that floodgates were opened already five days earlier.

[29][30] During July, three flood waves from rains in the upper Yangtze basin arrived at the dam, necessitating the opening of sluice gates multiple times to create space in the reservoir.

[33] According to a member of the expert committee of the state-sanctioned National Disaster Reduction Centre, the restrictions in human flow during the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China halted regular dam maintenance, dam inspection, training of officials and the construction of hydraulic projects, which were scheduled in the winter and spring of 2020.

[47] On 19 July, the Government of Quanjiao County blasted several gaps in Chu River Levee to release floods.

[48] At 8:32 am on 20 July, the Government of Nan County opened sluice gates at Wangjia Dam on the Huai River because water there was building up to too high a level.

[55] On 15 July, hundreds of homes in Miaoba Town [zh] of Chengkou County were evacuated due to catastrophic rain and floods.

[56] At 15:00 p.m. on 17 July, floods burst a bridge in Baojia Town [zh] of Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, a man fell into the river and disappeared.

[57] On 27 July, affected by persistent heavy rainfall, the first floor of the shops in the town of Ciqikou alongside the Yangtze River were inundated.

[citation needed] On 20 August, the Cuntan Hydrological Station in Chongqing rose over the high of 191.41 metres (628.0 ft), which was set in 1981.

[75] In Luorong Town [zh] of Yufeng District, Liuzhou, homes, streets and businesses was underwater when the torrential rainfall hit.

[78] On 12 July, portions of National Highway G212 in Meijiuhe Town [zh] of Renhuai was closed due to mountain flood.

[80] At 4 a.m. on 8 July, a landslide caused by heavy rainfall in Yuanshan village of Dahe Town [zh] in Huangmei County, killing eight people.

[91] Jiangxi experienced major floods in July 2020, primarily along the Poyang Lake and its tributaries in Jiujiang, Shangrao, and Pingxiang.

[93][94] Jiangzhou is an island in the middle of Yangtze River at the end of the Poyang lake, local government issued a call on social media for everyone from the town aged 18 to 60 to return and help fight the flood, citing a severe lack of hands to reinforce dams.

[103] National Highway 248 collapsed in the county seat Gaoyang Subdistrict [zh], causing two passing vehicles to fall into river.

[103][104] On 6 July 4 people were missing from the debris flow caused by floods in Zhailong Town [zh] of Xiaojin County.

[106] In early August, continuous rainfall has caused 22 major rivers in Sichuan to exceed their flood warning levels.

Local police and scenic area staff placed sandbags at the platform under the statue's feet, building a dam-like structure to protect it.

[citation needed] On 8 and 12 July, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary and paramount leader Xi Jinping as well as Premier Li Keqiang called successively for all-out efforts in rescue and relief operations in flooded areas across China and stressed that ensuring people's lives and safety is a top priority.

[122][123][124] On the morning of 14 July, more than 3,700 officers and soldiers from the 73rd Group Army rushed to Yugan County to fight against floods and deal with emergencies.

[122][123][124] On 14 July, according to the order of the Central Military Commission, more than 16,000 officers and soldiers were sent to Jiujiang, Shangrao and other areas of Jiangxi to fight floods.

[citation needed] On 19 August, CCP general secretary Xi Jinping visited Wangjiaba Dam on the Huai River and other flood-hit areas in Fuyang.

[126] That same day, Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Chongqing to assess conditions, visiting the village of Shuangba and the historic town of Ciqikou.