Landslides and flooding have claimed the lives of more than 150 people across China over the past two months as the region endures relentless torrential rainstorms. The search continues for victims of a flood and mudslide in a mountainous Tibetan area in Sichuan province, which left nine people dead and 18 others unaccounted for, state media reported.
The disaster struck early Saturday morning, devastating the village of Ridi. The incident destroyed homes and claimed at least seven lives, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Additionally, two more fatalities occurred when a nearby bridge between two tunnels collapsed, causing four vehicles to plummet.
China is currently in the midst of its peak flood season, spanning from mid-July to mid-August. Chinese policymakers have consistently emphasized the need for enhanced disaster preparations as severe weather events become more frequent. Last month, an annual government report on climate highlighted that historical data shows an increase in both extreme precipitation and heat across China, according to CCTV.
A heat warning was issued Monday for parts of eastern China, where temperatures were expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in several cities, including Nanjing, and reach 37 C (98 F) in nearby Shanghai.
Since June, a series of deadly rainstorms have wreaked havoc across the country. Last week, days of intense rain from the aftermath of Typhoon Gaemi, which had weakened to a tropical storm, killed at least 48 people in Hunan province and left 35 others missing.
On Friday, authorities announced that the death toll from a storm in July that caused the collapse of a bridge section in Shaanxi province had risen to 38, with another 24 people still missing. The storm caused at least 25 cars to fall into a raging river, which washed some of the vehicles far downstream.
In mid-June, extreme rainfall led to flooding and mudslides in Guangzhou province, resulting in at least 47 deaths. Neighboring Fujian province reported six more fatalities.
The remnants of Typhoon Gaemi also impacted northeastern China and North Korea, overflowing the Yalu River and inundating cities, towns, and farmland.
These intense rains have caused devastation across Asia this summer, including landslides in southern India that killed more than 200 people last week. The ongoing severe weather underscores the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and response measures in the face of escalating climate challenges.
06th Aug 2024
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