WorldMay 21, 2026

Mid‑May Floods in China: What Happened and How People Were Affected

Easy Medium Hard

② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

flood/flʌd/

water that covers land that is usually dry

"The flood covered the street."

evacuate/ɪˈvæk.ju.eɪt/

to move people away from danger to a safe place

"The town had to evacuate families."

landslide/ˈlænd.slaɪd/

when earth or rocks move down a slope after heavy rain

"A landslide blocked the road."

Listening

Mid‑May Floods in China: What Happened and How People Were Affected

Heavy rain hit central and southern China in mid May 2026. The storms caused floods and landslides in many places. At least 22 people died and about 20 people are missing. Tens of thousands of people left their homes and moved to safer places.

Provinces affected include Hunan (central China), Hubei (central China), Guizhou (southwest China), Jiangxi and Guangdong (southeast China). Local teams moved people, cleared roads, and helped injured residents. Emergency funds were set aside to help families and repair damaged houses and roads. Weather services warned more rain could fall, so people stayed alert. Rescue teams used boats and trucks to reach stranded villages.

106 words

Quiz

1. Where did the heavy rain hit?

2. How many people died?

3. Name one of the provinces affected.

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you worry about heavy rain where you live? Why or why not?

Have you ever had to leave your home because of weather? What happened?

What do you think helps people stay safe during floods?