Chongqing - Chongqing has introduced a four-tier system clarifying who is responsible for evacuating residents at risk from natural disasters. The new rules took effect on August 1, 2026.

The Regulations on the Evacuation of People at Risk from Natural Disasters in Chongqing contain 30 articles across six chapters. They define the responsibilities of municipal, district and county, township and subdistrict, and village and community authorities, while also setting duties for government departments, employers and residents.

Fu Zitang, chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress, said at a July 31 press conference that emergency evacuation was a key safeguard for protecting lives and required coordinated action across different levels of government and society.

The landscape of Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Nan'an District)

Chongqing combines a large urban population with extensive rural, mountainous and reservoir areas. Its steep terrain creates geological risks, while the Yangtze, Jialing and Wujiang rivers contribute to frequent flooding. Large forested areas, together with prolonged summer heat and drought, also increase wildfire risks.

Four levels link warnings to local action

The regulations formalize Chongqing's "44NN" warning and response mechanism. The first "four" refers to warnings issued one to three days, six hours, and two hours in advance, followed by real-time alerts. The second "four" refers to responses at the municipal, district or county, township or subdistrict, and village, community or local-grid levels. The two "Ns" cover different disaster scenarios and the specific tasks assigned under each situation.

Staff from the Chongqing Liangping District Emergency Management Bureau use a drone to inspect forest areas. (Photo/Liangping District)

Fu said the regulations clarify "who is responsible and what they must do," addressing uncertainty about which authority should respond in the event of a disaster.

Warnings must not stop at administrative offices. Townships and communities are required to use digital governance platforms, emergency broadcasts, door-to-door notifications, gongs, whistles and other methods to ensure alerts reach individuals. Television stations and mobile operators must also distribute warnings in accordance with national rules.

Local authorities can order immediate evacuations

The regulations specify when evacuation orders must be issued and allow authorities to update them as conditions change.

In eight urgent situations, including flash floods and rapidly rising water levels, township and subdistrict authorities may immediately evacuate all threatened residents without waiting for approval through higher administrative levels.

Village and neighborhood committees must simultaneously organize self-rescue, mutual assistance, and evacuation. Fu said this allows officials closest to the danger and most familiar with local conditions to make decisions.

Preparations must begin before disasters occur. Authorities are required to survey flood channels, tunnels, culverts and other high-risk areas, identify evacuation routes and shelters, and register residents who may need assistance.

Forest rangers patrol Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Forestry Bureau)

Older people, children, pregnant women and people with disabilities must have designated helpers. High-risk townships and communities must hold at least one evacuation drill each year.

Public parks, schools and squares may serve as emergency shelters and must provide basic food, water and accommodation. Residents may stay with relatives or friends, while governments must arrange centralized shelters for those unable to find accommodation on their own.

Water authorities expand risk monitoring

The Chongqing Municipal Water Resources Bureau is responsible for flood-related inspections, warnings and coordination across river basins.

Yin Pingshun, deputy director of the bureau, said Chongqing had inspected and corrected 1,267 risks, added 698 flash-flood channel locations to its digital maps and placed 3,432 flood-control risk points under full management.

All risk points have been entered into the city's government water-disaster prevention platform for mapping and continuous updates.

The city is also building a three-tier monitoring system using meteorological satellites, weather and rainfall radar, rain gauges, hydrological stations and forecasting models.

Chongqing has strengthened information sharing with neighboring Sichuan and Guizhou provinces on hydrological monitoring, forecasts and reservoir operations.

During heavy rainfall in the Wujiang River basin in early July, Chongqing worked with national river authorities and Guizhou to coordinate the release of water from a series of reservoirs. The operation lowered peak water levels by 6 to 7 meters and reduced flood pressure on downstream areas including Wulong District.

This year, Chongqing has coordinated reservoir operations 52 times, stored 1.02 billion cubic meters of floodwater, avoided the evacuation of more than 30,000 people and reduced losses by 420 million yuan (about 62.17 million U.S. dollars), according to the municipal water resources bureau.