Typhoon Gaemi Devastates Central China: 30 Dead and 35 Missing

At least 30 people have died and 35 remain missing in central China following days of torrential rain that battered the region earlier this week, according to state media reports on Thursday.

The severe weather was caused by Typhoon Gaemi, which, after moving through the Philippines and Taiwan, made landfall in eastern China a week ago. Hunan province, particularly the hilly and landlocked areas, has been hit especially hard.

State news agency Xinhua reported that more than 11,000 people had been evacuated from the city of Zixing, where record rainfall of 645 millimeters (25 inches) fell within just 24 hours. The intense downpours have led to temporary road blockages connecting townships in the Zixing area and have severely impacted power supply and communication infrastructure.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, “the roads, electricity, and communications in eight towns in Zixing city that were most severely affected by Typhoon Gaemi have basically reopened.” The report noted that search and rescue operations are ongoing.

Earlier reports from Tuesday indicated that four people had been killed and three were missing in Zixing. In addition, three people died in Yongxing county, and a landslide on Sunday claimed 15 lives elsewhere in Hunan province.

The situation remains dire as rescue efforts continue to address the widespread damage and provide aid to affected communities.