Severe storms in China have resulted in a significant loss of life, with the death toll rising to 15 as of Tuesday, according to state media reports. Hundreds more have been injured and tens of thousands evacuated, prompting the country’s leader, Xi Jinping, to urge ‘all out’ efforts to rescue those affected by the weather.
Thunderstorms and gale-force winds in the central province of Hubei have been particularly devastating, killing at least 11 people and injuring 331. Tornadoes have also been reported in other areas, with severe convective weather hitting cities in the region. State news agency Xinhua reported that 4,800 houses have been damaged and 22 more collapsed, highlighting the severity of the situation.
In the southern region of Guangxi, heavy rains and severe flooding from Typhoon Maysak have killed at least four people, with at least 50,000 people evacuated and eight still missing. Officials in Nanning, Guangxi’s capital, have raised the flood control emergency response to the highest level after torrential rain breached dams, leading to dramatic scenes of destruction.
Rescue workers have been deployed to search for those trapped, with footage showing teams wearing life vests and helmets searching for people and using inflatable boats to navigate flooded areas. Xi Jinping has emphasized the need for urgent action, stating that rescuers should ‘go all out’ in organizing emergency operations.
The severe weather has also led to a landslide in a village in the north-western province of Gansu, burying 33 people, with 17 successfully rescued. Local authorities are working to search for those still trapped and provide support to affected residents, while also guarding against secondary disasters.
The extreme weather events in China are a reminder of the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, particularly during the summer months. Scientists warn that the intensity and frequency of such events will increase as the planet continues to heat up due to fossil fuel emissions.
