BEIJING: At least four people have been confirmed dead and more than a dozen remain missing after record-breaking rains battered parts of southern China, while the northern regions of the country experience some of the highest temperatures recorded this year, state media reported Tuesday.
The torrential downpours in Fujian province led to the deaths of four persons, according to state news agency Xinhua, which cited the flood control headquarters of Shanghang County. The extreme weather has affected over 66,000 residents, causing significant disruptions to communications and electricity infrastructure. Authorities have also issued warnings of potential landslides in the area.
In neighboring Guangdong province, the city of Meizhou faced devastating landslides on Monday that resulted in the deaths of five people. The disaster left 15 persons missing, while 13 others were reported trapped as of early Tuesday morning, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
CCTV footage depicted scenes of devastation in Meizhou, with overturned vehicles, damaged buildings, and residents wading through mud and debris to salvage their belongings. Additional images showed large sections of highways swept away by landslides and rescue workers navigating floodwaters in dinghies to reach stranded villagers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for emergency personnel to “make every effort to respond to disaster situations and do a good job of relief and rescue work to combat flooding and drought,” Xinhua reported. He emphasized the need to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property and to maintain overall social stability.
In addition to Fujian and Guangdong, flooding has also impacted the southern and central provinces of Guangxi and Hunan, as well as the northwestern region of Xinjiang. In Xinjiang’s city of Changji, four people were reported missing after a flash flood, according to Xinhua.
Meanwhile, northern China is experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures expected to soar up to 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) in Beijing and the surrounding areas of Tianjin and Hebei on Tuesday, the National Meteorological Centre stated. Authorities have initiated drought prevention and disaster relief measures in seven provinces across China’s north, east, and center.
China is enduring a summer marked by extreme weather events, which scientists attribute to the effects of climate change. Greenhouse gases play a significant role in exacerbating climate-related disasters.
