At Least 9 Dead in Chongqing Floods as Residents Question Reservoir Role

Just weeks before the flood, Chongqing officials publicly touted AI alerts, drones, and round-the-clock reservoir monitoring.

A fireman transfers a car trapped in a flood with the help of a crane at Wuxi County in Chongqing, China, on July 14, 2015. Getty Images

Torrential rain triggered flash floods, mudslides, and landslides across Chongqing in southwestern China from the night of May 23 into the early hours of May 24, killing at least nine people and leaving 11 missing in Yongchuan District, the hardest-hit area, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Two more people were unaccounted for in Beibei District. As rescue efforts continued, residents and experts began questioning whether reservoir releases or dam problems had contributed to the disaster.