“Storm of the Chinese century” causes severe flooding

Continuous downpours that started more than a month ago are causing severe flooding in several provinces of south and central China. Provincial flood control and civil affairs authorities are saying this type of rainstorms occur once every 100 year. 

Dubbed the “storm of the century”, the latest in a series of storms that has battered Guangdong province since the beginning of May has caused fatalities and widespread damage from flooding, landslides, and sinkholes. (Nanfang)

As of Monday, May 26, at least 26 people have been confirmed dead and 10 others are missing.

In Guangdong province, 800 000 people were affected and 21 000 evacuated, including the major cities of Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Shanwei and Qingyuan. In Qingyuan city, as of Saturday afternoon, 3 300 houses have collapsed. (IE)

Downpours also swept southwestern Guizhou, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces in south China, Xinhua reports.

Sixteen national or provincial highways were closed.

The threat of flooding on Monday is focused in northern Guangdong as well as Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces. Further heavy rainfall is expected in the region, in particular in Hunan, Guangdong and Jiangxi but floods are also possible in the province of Fujian.

Due to the ground already saturated with rainwater, more flash flooding is expected to return.

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Featured image: NASA Aqua / MODIS. Acquired May 24, 2014. Edit: The Watchers