A landslide struck Shixia Group in Mingkeng Village, Gaoping Township, Suichuan County, Jiangxi Province at approximately 4:00 a.m. on September 5, triggered by days of heavy rainfall from Typhoon Shadel. The disaster damaged 12 homes, completely destroying eight structures and causing partial damage to four others. Rescue teams have recovered three individuals so far, with two in stable condition and one confirmed deceased, while eleven people remain unaccounted for.
Suichuan County has experienced severe rainfall conditions, leading to rising river levels, localized urban flooding, and submerged agricultural land in several areas. The photograph was captured on September 2. Source: China Weather Network.
At 11:00 a.m. on September 5, the Ministry of Natural Resources escalated Jiangxi's geological disaster defense response from Level IV to Level III, dispatching a working group led by department-level officials to the scene to guide rescue and emergency operations.
The ministry has directed the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Natural Resources to have its expert team already on-site provide technical support for search and rescue efforts, while also conducting comprehensive geological hazard inspections, monitoring, early warning systems, and preventive measures for similar situations. The China Geological Survey and the Ministry's Geological Disaster Technical Guidance Center have been instructed to strengthen expert coordination, organizational collaboration, and consultation analysis to provide full technical support.
According to Jiangxi Daily, Typhoon Shadel made three landfalls in China, affecting Jiangxi Province for seven consecutive days, making it the most impactful typhoon in terms of wind and rainfall this year. From August 31 to September 4, Suichuan experienced continuous precipitation, with some mountainous areas reporting landslides and road obstructions. Between 8:00 a.m. on September 4 and 8:00 a.m. on September 5, the county recorded an average rainfall of 35.8 millimeters.
On September 5, Suichuan County authorities announced that Typhoon Shadel, combined with cold air moving southward and upstream flood discharge, had caused extremely severe disaster losses. Following deliberation, the county decided to activate a Level I emergency disaster response effective from 10:00 a.m. on September 5. The Jiangxi Provincial Emergency Command subsequently activated a Level II emergency response for sudden geological disasters starting at 10:00 a.m. the same day, requiring all departments and regions to fully execute geological disaster emergency procedures according to their designated responsibilities and response plans.