China on High Alert as Flooding and Landslides Wreak Havoc

Large areas of China are under high alert due to the risk of flash floods and landslides. This follows a period of relentless rainfall that has already caused fatalities and necessitated evacuations across several provinces. The heavy downpours, a part of the annual "Plum Rains" season, have moved from the southwest through central China and into the northeast, triggering red alerts in Sichuan, Gansu, and Liaoning provinces.

In Henan province, rescue teams recovered five bodies and searched for three missing individuals after a river overflowed, resulting in a sudden flash flood. Over a thousand emergency personnel have been dispatched to aid residents. In Hebei, officials were urged to prioritize the protection of lives as the rain persisted. Neighboring Gansu province also experienced tragedy, with two fatalities resulting from a landslide at a construction site.

Dramatic events unfolded in Guangxi, where a five-story building under construction collapsed into the Lengshui river due to the saturated ground. The river experienced its worst flooding since at least 2005. In Guangxi's Pingliu village, landslides destroyed homes and prompted the evacuation of residents. The Plum Rains have also disrupted travel, leading to the suspension of train services to Beijing and delays or cancellations at one of the capital's airports.

The Chinese finance ministry has allocated significant emergency disaster relief funds to support affected regions. These funds will be used for urgent needs such as search and rescue operations, relocation of residents, temporary living assistance, and the rebuilding of damaged homes. Authorities aim to restore daily life and economic activity in the most affected communities as quickly as possible.

The extreme rainfall and severe flooding, which experts increasingly link to the climate crisis, are putting a strain on China's flood defenses and threatening its agricultural regions. The national meteorological center predicts further storms across the north and west, even as the east coast experiences scorching temperatures.