Torrential fatal rains pummel southern China, flooding endangers millions of people.
Since June 9, a minimum of thirteen individuals have perished, according to Chinese state media disclosed on Friday. Shocking footage emerged showing urban areas drowned in water, and buildings apparently collapsing as emergency responders rushed to save trapped residents in speedboats.
On Friday, Chinese state telecaster CCTV announced that at least nine deaths had taken place in Meizhou, located in Guangdong province, one of the regions most impacted by incessant flooding along the banks of the Songyuan and Shiku rivers.
The southern province, inhabited by 127 million people, is prone to annual flooding from April to September. However, the region has experienced more severe rainstorms and catastrophic flooding in recent years as scientists express concerns that the climate crisis will magnify extreme weather, making it more deadly and frequent.
Earlier in the week, more than 10,000 people were evacuated from Meizhou, with approximately 130,000 others left powerless, according to reports. Authorities in the city raised the flood control emergency response to Level-I, the most severe level, as stated by state media. China's flood control emergency response system includes four levels.
In the neighboring southern province of Fujian, state media reported at least four deaths, affecting an estimated 586,500 people across 40 counties.
In Guangxi, a neighboring southern region to the west, state media stated that 48 rivers surpassed flood warning levels, leading to a Level-II emergency response being introduced.
The Lijiang River, a famous tourist destination and popular spot, faced its worst flooding since 1998, resulting in around 6,000 people being evacuated.
The emergency response to the flooding was initiated amid Chinese leader Xi Jinping's call on Tuesday for all efforts to secure safety and property, as China grapples with severe weather, experiencing intense rainfall in the south and record temperatures and drought in the north.
Other regions in China are also experiencing premature and extended periods of extreme heat waves and droughts each year, leading to nationwide power shortages and disruptions on food and industrial supply chains.
CNN’s Fred He, Manveena Suri, and Hassan Tayir collaborated on this report.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern about the health implications of the ongoing flooding in China, with millions of people affected.
As the Chinese government continues to respond to the disaster, international aid organizations have pledged their support to help those affected in China, specifically in areas like Meizhou where significant damage has been reported.
