At least 17 people have died and hundreds more were injured after powerful thunderstorms, strong winds and widespread flooding swept across parts of central and southern China, state media reported on Tuesday, as authorities intensified rescue and relief operations.
Central China’s Hubei province was hit by what state broadcaster CCTV described as “severe convective weather” on Monday, with multiple areas experiencing violent thunderstorms and destructive winds.
“Thunderstorms and strong winds swept” through cities including Huangshi and Huanggang, killing eight people, it added.
Tornadoes were also reported in several locations, while nine people remain missing following the severe weather.
State news agency Xinhua reported that 275 people had been injured in Huanggang’s Huangzhou district as of Tuesday morning, although it did not provide details on the extent of their injuries.
Authorities have also relocated 408 residents to safer locations as emergency teams continue to respond to the disaster.
“Rescue and relief efforts are underway,” Xinhua said.
Meanwhile, in southern China’s Guangxi region, torrential rainfall and severe flooding triggered by Typhoon Maysak claimed at least two lives and forced the evacuation of more than 48,000 residents by Monday evening.
Flooding in the regional capital, Nanning, prompted officials to raise the emergency flood response to its highest level after relentless rainfall caused dams to overflow.
Heavy rains also caused the walls of a reservoir dam to collapse. Footage broadcast by CCTV showed muddy floodwaters surging through the broken concrete structure.
The broadcaster also aired images of homes and vehicles partially submerged by floodwaters in several affected communities.
Rescue personnel, equipped with life jackets and helmets, were deployed across the region, with some navigating flooded areas in inflatable boats to search for stranded residents.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an intensified emergency response, urging authorities to mobilize all available resources for rescue efforts, according to state media on Tuesday.
Xi stressed “the need to go all out in organising emergency rescue operations, treating the injured, and resettling affected residents, carrying out disaster prevention and relief work effectively”, state broadcaster CCTV said.
Scientists have repeatedly warned that the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events worldwide are expected to increase as global temperatures continue to rise due to fossil fuel emissions.
China remains the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases but is also the leading investor in renewable energy. Beijing has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality across its economy by 2060.
