Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across southern China, leading to widespread flash flooding and mudslides. The region has witnessed at least 55 fatalities since June 9, with dramatic scenes of urban areas submerged in water and buildings collapsing. Emergency responders have been working tirelessly to rescue stranded residents, with tens of thousands evacuated from affected areas.
The city of Meizhou in Guangdong province has been particularly hard hit, with 47 reported deaths and record flooding along the Songyuan and Shiku rivers. Guangdong province, home to 127 million people, faces annual flooding from April to September, but recent years have seen more intense rainstorms and severe flooding.
Authorities in Meizhou have evacuated over 10,000 people and raised the flood control emergency response to Level-I. The direct economic loss is estimated to be around 5.8 billion yuan ($799 million), with thousands affected by the heavy rainfall. In Fujian province, at least eight people have died, and over half a million individuals have been impacted by heavy rainfall across 40 counties.
In Guangxi, 48 rivers are running above flood alert levels, prompting a Level-II emergency response. The famous Lijiang River in Guilin experienced its worst flooding since 1998, leading to the evacuation of more than 6,000 people. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to protect lives and property as the country grapples with extreme weather conditions.
China is facing not only heavy rains in the south but also severe drought and record temperatures in the north. The climate crisis is exacerbating extreme weather events, making them more deadly and frequent. As parts of China battle heatwaves and droughts, the nation is working to mitigate the impact on power supply, food chains, and industrial operations.
