Heavy rainfall in southern China leads to numerous fatalities and extensive destruction
In the south of China, tragic incidents and property damages have arisen due to excessive rainfall and landslides. In the southeastern province of Fujian, four individuals perished in Wuping County on Monday as a result of landslides, with another pair presumed missing, as reported by Chinese state television.
Numerous houses collapsed in various locations, leaving roads and dams damaged. The authorities approximately estimated the damages to be around 415 million Yuan (approximately 53.5 million Euro) according to the state television.
Authorities in numerous provinces issued flood warnings. State television footage showed landslides, such as one in Guangxi's neighboring province Guangdong, and roads that have caved in. Social media shared videos, like one depicting a car being swept away by floodwaters and a roof collapsing.
In Guangdong's Meizhou region, approximately 138,000 households experienced power outages. Due to heavy rainfall since the weekend, several rivers in this area reached alarming water levels. The authorities in Guangdong evacuated 11,100 people residing in risk areas near dikes according to the state television. Schools in the surrounding Meizhou area were closed on Monday, with kindergartens also staying shut.
In Guangxi, people were moved to emergency shelters. Rescuers in inflatable boats navigated flooded streets and carried elderly people through water, as footage showed. Over 11,000 people were reportedly in urgent need of aid.
According to the Chinese Meteorological Administration's warning, Fujian was anticipated to face excessive rainfall on Monday. Reports from authorities indicated that roughly 36,000 people had been evacuated in Fujian due to flooding, with extensive damages occurring in various parts of Fujian.
