A flash flood caused by heavy rain struck the Shuangshimen Scenic Area in Weiyuan County, Dingxi City, Gansu Province, northwestern China on July 26, 2026, killing 10 people and injuring 23 others at the popular tourist site [1, 2, 3].
The scenic area is known for natural stone arches, alpine meadows, and mountain streams and is a favored summer camping spot in southern Gansu [1, 2]. Following the flood, rescue teams evacuated 174 people from the site, and those injured were sent to hospitals for treatment [1, 2].
The heavy rainfall that triggered the flash flood was linked to severe weather associated with Typhoon Noul, which made landfall early on July 26 in southern China [1, 4, 2]. This typhoon caused widespread repeated heavy rains and flash flood alerts across southern and central Chinese provinces, including Gansu, despite Gansu being far from the typhoon’s direct path [1, 4, 2].
At the same time, mudslides and landslides in other mountainous areas such as Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area in Sichuan province and Chongqing city led to evacuations and fatalities [4]. Due to ongoing heavy rains and safety concerns, authorities closed parts of the Jiuzhaigou World Heritage site and evacuated stranded tourists on July 27 [4].
