Deadly Flooding in Guangdong Province

At least 47 people have tragically lost their lives in southern China’s Guangdong Province due to severe flooding and landslides triggered by torrential rains. The city of Meizhou, with a population of about 3.8 million, faced unprecedented rainfall.

Escalating Death Toll

Initially, reports indicated nine fatalities in Meizhou. However, the death toll surged dramatically when officials announced an additional 38 deaths in Pingyuan, a county under Meizhou’s jurisdiction. Sadly, two individuals are still missing in the area.

Mass Evacuations and Ongoing Challenges

Over 100,000 people had to be evacuated from the affected regions. Despite ongoing efforts, around 9,000 households in Meizhou were still without electricity, and authorities were working to restore power and water services to the residents.

Continued Risk and National Preparedness

The Chinese authorities have cautioned that the region is likely to experience high levels of rainfall until the end of the month, particularly along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. This comes as the country braces for a potentially challenging summer in terms of weather-related disasters.

• Meizhou has been significantly impacted by extreme weather this year, with previous incidents such as a fatal expressway collapse in May.
• Other provinces in the vicinity, including Fujian, Guangxi, and Hunan, have also reported flooding-related deaths in recent weeks.
• Despite southern China facing heavy rain, northern provinces have issued warnings about drought conditions, adding to the country’s varied weather challenges.
• On a global scale, 2021 is on track to be one of the hottest years on record, underscoring the urgent need for climate action.