The death toll from torrential rains and floods that hit Guangdong province, in southern China, this week has risen to 38, state media announced Friday. “Due to the severity of the disaster, the search and rescue of trapped people is difficult and takes a long time,” state broadcaster CCTV said.
More than 55,000 people in total were affected by this heavy rainfall, while more than 2,200 houses and nearly 4,700 roads were destroyed, according to the same source. The disaster also damaged hundreds of electrical installations and water pipes, as well as nearly 7,000 hectares of crops, according to CCTV.
Record floods
A previous report from the authorities on Thursday reported nine people having died in these floods in the surroundings of the city of Meizhou, in the east of Guangdong province. But the toll rose to 38 by mid-afternoon Friday. Heavy rains in the densely populated Guangdong region this week caused flooding and landslides, with some areas experiencing record flooding.
CCTV reported that direct economic losses due to the floods were estimated at 5.85 billion yuan ($805.7 million). CCTV footage broadcast on Friday showed an entire village flooded by muddy waters colliding with broken masonry and roofs with missing tiles.
The summer of extremes
State media reported this week that some areas had suffered “100-year floods… (or) the largest since records began.”
The central government has allocated 105 million yuan ($14.5 million) in emergency aid to flood-hit regions, state media said Friday. While torrential rains lashed the south, northern China sweated under temperatures well above 35 degrees Celsius.
Authorities in several provinces have issued heat alerts since the beginning of June, urging residents to limit their exposure to the sun and to hydrate. Showers eased the heat on Friday in Beijing, where the mercury soared to 37C last week.
Climate change in question
Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heavy rains and heat waves.
China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, which are a main cause of climate change, scientists say.
Beijing has pledged to peak emissions of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas, by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
