China Flood (1931)

In 1931, extensive flooding occurred in China, especially on the Yellow River and Yangtze River. These floods significantly affected one-quarter of the Chinese population, or 51 million Chinese people. The flood at the Yellow River (Huang He) produced four million casualties, the highest of all recorded natural disasters. The Yellow River serves the northern regions of China and runs for 3,395 miles. The Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) is the longest river in Asia, as well as the world's third longest river. The Yangtze spans 3,915 miles across southern China.

Heavy snowstorms in the winter were followed by a spring thaw with abnormally heavy rains that raised the river levels even higher. The rain increased into July and August 1931. The rising water levels of the Yangtze River over the first half of August 1931 resulted in the August 18, 1931 flood that claimed 145,000 lives and destroyed approximately $2 billion in property. Of the 10 provinces or regions that the Yangtze River passes through or along, the flood devastated 186 counties and cities located in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, and Jiangxi, and also affected 8.38 million acres of farmland. This stunted the production of rice, which is the staple of the population in the region. The lack of rice led to starvation, one key cause that contributed to the high fatality rate. The spread of typhoid and dysentery also followed after the flood.

In an attempt to feed the Chinese population, over-cultivation and the outstripping harvest of Chinese agricultural lands left insufficient vegetation in the ground to absorb rain. The excess rain then flowed into the major rivers, which in turn raised the water levels within the rivers. Because flooding around the delta and plains surrounding the rivers is normally so prevalent, it makes such lands fertile for agriculture and thus attractive sites for both farmers and inhabitants. The Yangtze [Page 69]River is reputed to be the cradle of the Chinese civilization. The huge loss of lives is a result of a vicious cycle, where inadequate food leads people to risk living in fertile, but flood-prone areas.

Relief efforts were both local and global in scope. In 2005, the Gaoyou City government gave tribute to many who partnered to rebuild the area and aid in relief. Among those identified included Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, who provided aerial surveys, photos, and written accounts of the devastation, and were credited in helping to bring attention to the disaster. General Wang Shuxiang, a water conservancy expert who managed 20,000 workers and oversaw the design and rebuilding work of the ruptured levees for the region, was also honored.

In sum, the floods directly—and indirectly, through the aftermath of famine and disease—contributed to the total loss of 3.7 million lives in 1931. As a means to control flooding in the Yangtze region, the China Yangtze Three Gorges Project was instituted; construction began in 1995 and was completed in 2009. The goal of the project was to prevent flooding in the area and stabilize agriculture, as another flood such as the one in 1931 would have adverse effects on the nation's economy. Also designed to be the single largest electricity-generating facility in the world, the dam is expected to generate one-ninth of the total Chinese power output. However, while the dam does help forestall the devastating floods of downstream lowlands, scientists have contended that it also creates devastating new risks. The water buildup could increase the risk of landslides, waterborne diseases, and even earthquakes. About 1.25 million people have been relocated for the project in order to avoid geographic hazards caused by the dam.

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