World News
11 Declared Missing, Thousands Evacuated As Heavy Flood Hits South China
Regrettably, eleven individuals have been reported missing in the aftermath of the storms that recently struck southern China.
State media disclosed this information on Monday, also noting that tens of thousands have been relocated due to the heavy rainfall.
Heavy precipitation has engulfed the expansive province of Guangdong in the south, swelling rivers and sparking concerns of potential severe flooding. State media has described the situation as a rare occurrence that may only happen “once in a century.”
“A total of 11 people are missing after continuous heavy rainfall hit many parts of (Guangdong) in recent days,” state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the local emergency management department.
In the Monday morning statement, it was revealed that over 53,000 people have been relocated across the province due to the development.
Over 45,000 individuals were evacuated from Qingyuan, a city in northern Guangdong, situated along the Bei River in the expansive Pearl River Delta region, as per reports from state media on Sunday.
Heavy rainfall is anticipated to persist into Monday, with meteorological experts predicting “thunderstorms and strong winds in the coastal waters of Guangdong” – an area of sea adjacent to major cities such as Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
The National Meteorological Centre stated that neighbouring provinces, including sections of Fujian, Guizhou, and Guangxi, will also experience “short-term heavy rainfall”.
“It is expected that the main impact period of strong convection will last from daytime until night,” it added.
China Flood
In Guangdong province, which is China’s densely populated manufacturing heartland, approximately 127 million people reside, Nation Post learnt.
In Jiangwan town, six individuals sustained injuries and several others were trapped due to landslides triggered by heavy rainfall on Sunday, as per reports from state media.
Images released by state broadcaster CCTV depicted waterfront residences demolished by a wave of brown mud, with individuals seeking refuge in a drenched public sports court.
CCTV stated on Sunday that floods reaching heights of up to 5.8 meters (19 feet) above the warning level were expected to hit Pearl River tributaries on Monday morning.
Although China has experienced extreme weather in the past, recent years have witnessed the nation being battered by severe floods, prolonged droughts, and record-breaking heat.
The impact of climate change, fueled by human-generated greenhouse gases, leads to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, with China being the world’s largest emitter.
