Current Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2024
This article provides an overview of the current flood situation in China, including the impacted areas, casualties, and evacuation efforts.
| Key Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | June 2024 |
| Location | Southern China, including Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan provinces |
| Casualties | At least 71 deaths reported |
| Evacuees | Tens of thousands displaced |
| Affected | Over 500,000 individuals in Anhui province alone |
Introduction
Southern China is currently grappling with deadly flooding and landslides caused by record-breaking rains. The affected regions include Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan provinces, with at least 71 fatalities reported and tens of thousands of people displaced. This article summarizes the current flood situation, its impact on various provinces, and the evacuation efforts underway.
Flooding in Southern China
Record-breaking rains have caused widespread flooding and landslides in southern China, particularly in Guangdong province, which has a population of 127 million and experiences annual flooding from April to September. However, recent years have seen more intense rainstorms and severe flooding, exacerbated by the climate crisis.
In Fujian province, at least four people have died due to heavy rainfall, affecting an estimated 586,500 people across 40 counties. Guangxi, a neighboring region to the west, has reported that 48 rivers are running above flood alert levels, prompting a Level-II emergency response.
The Lijiang River, a renowned tourist destination, has experienced its worst flooding since 1998, resulting in over 6,000 evacuations. The emergency response to the flooding comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts to protect lives and property amidst extreme weather conditions in both the south and the north.
Impact on Hunan Province
Hunan province, located in southern central China, has been severely affected by the flooding. The China Meteorological Administration raised its highest red rain signal, warning of torrential rain risks in several provinces, including Hubei, Hunan, and Anhui.
In Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, residents have navigated flooded streets and subway tunnels as local rivers reached a record height of 4.59 meters. Emergency crews have utilized rubber boats to evacuate residents amidst the record-breaking rainfall of 65.1 millimeters in an hour.
Tragic incidents have been reported across various provinces and cities, including five deaths in Yuanlin county, Hunan, due to mountain torrents. In Anhui province, over 500,000 individuals have been affected by relentless rainfall, with tens of thousands forced to evacuate.
Evacuation Efforts
Rescue efforts are underway, with three helicopters and over 200 teams of rescuers searching for survivors and delivering aid to the affected areas. In Guangdong province, authorities have raised the flood control emergency response to Level-I, the most severe, to facilitate evacuation and relief efforts.
Climate Change and Extreme Weather
The escalating climate crisis has contributed to more intense rainstorms and severe flooding in southern China, highlighting the multifaceted impacts of climate change on different regions of the country.
In conclusion, the current flood situation in China is dire, with at least 71 deaths reported and tens of thousands of people displaced. The affected regions, including Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan provinces, are grappling with the aftermath of record-breaking rains, landslides, and flooding.
Evacuation efforts are underway, and rescue workers are searching for survivors and delivering aid to the affected areas. The climate crisis has exacerbated extreme weather events, leading to more intense rainstorms and severe flooding in southern China.
