BEIJING- Weather forecasters in China have issued dire warnings to several provinces, cautioning them to brace for torrential rain and the looming threat of flash floods in the coming two days. The unrelenting downpours have triggered havoc across the nation, prompting extensive evacuations and inciting concerns over the precarious weather conditions.
Over the weekend, north-western Hunan province bore the brunt of the relentless deluge, compelling the evacuation of more than three thousand residents. The tempestuous weather unleashed its fury on Sangzhi, Shimen, and Yongshun counties, along with Zhangjiajie City. State media reported the deluge resulted in the evacuation of these regions.
Sangzhi, in particular, faced the most intense rainfall of the year, with a staggering maximum precipitation of 256 mm (10.07 inches) within a single overnight period from Saturday to Sunday. According to China Central Television, this marked the most extensive and widespread rainfall event in Sangzhi since the year 1998.
The nation’s struggle with incessant rains and flooding has persisted over the past few weeks, as an abnormally wet summer exacerbates the situation. In late July, the onslaught of storms from Typhoon Dokusri unleashed record-breaking rains upon China, resulting in the heaviest rainfall experienced by Beijing in over a century and a half.
With Typhoon Saola currently traversing the South China Sea, China’s government has sounded the alarm for heightened flood preparedness. Forecasts indicate that the typhoon could potentially make landfall in Guangdong province as early as this coming Friday.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, China’s State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management orchestrated a crucial video conference this past Saturday. During the conference, officials highlighted the potential for extensive geological disasters, including mountain torrents and floods in small to medium-sized rivers, as a result of heavy rainfall across various parts of the country. These warnings were reported by state media outlet People’s Daily.
Adding to the uncertainty, the path of Typhoon Saola remains ambiguous, as indicated by the China Meteorological Administration. However, the looming typhoon is projected to usher in a period of heavy rainfall along coastal areas, encompassing Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. This meteorological event is expected to transpire from Wednesday to Friday.
