Extreme rainfall hits China’s Hunan, claiming at least 15 lives

Remnants of Typhoon “Gaemi” dropped extreme rainfall over China’s Hunan province on July 28, 2024, causing severe floods and landslides in which at least 15 people lost their lives. Gaemi made landfall in Fujian Province on July 24, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h (75 mph), forcing the evacuation of 290 000 people.

Torrential rains produced by remnants of Gaemi caused a devastating landslide in Central China’s Hunan Province on July 28, claiming 15 lives and causing 6 injuries. Several people are still missing, according to a report by Xinhua.

The landslide hit Yuelin village in Hengyang City at about 8:00 local time (LT), according to the provincial emergency command center, after about 300 mm (12 inches) of rain fell over the region within 24 hours.

More than 20 counties and cities in Hunan broke rainfall records on July 28, with as much as 679 mm (26.7 inches) of rainfall recorded in just 24 hours.

On the same day, Linjiang in Jilin province suffered the largest flood in history, with the water level more than 6 m (19.7 feet) higher than normal.

Meanwhile, as of 7:00 LT on July 28, more than 46 000 residents in northeastern China’s Liaoning Province have been evacuated.

Water levels in major rivers across Liaoning have risen significantly, along with elevated water levels in 40 reservoirs due to heavy rainfall. Currently, water is being released and there is no immediate danger, said the provincial flood control and drought relief department on July 28.

In order to prevent floods and mitigate disasters, nearly 1 600 personnel have been deployed in the cities of Benxi, Dandong, Liaoyang, and Tieling in Liaoning to patrol and inspect 1 335 km (829 miles) of embankments.

Cultural venues like the Liaoning Provincial Museum and Shenyang Palace Museum, were temporarily closed on July 28.

Multiple train services running on several railway lines, including the Beijing-Harbin high-speed railway, would be suspended to ensure passenger safety, said China Railway Beijing Group Co. on July 28.

Before striking China, the typhoon brought heavy monsoon rains in the Philippines, causing at least 34 deaths, and swept across the island of Taiwan, where the death toll has risen to 10 as of July 27, according to authorities.

References:

¹ Mudslide kills 15 people near tourist site in China as rains from tropical storm Gaemi drench region – AP -July 28, 2024

² Rain-triggered mudslide leaves several missing in central China’s Hunan – Xinhua – July 28, 2024

³ China Focus: 15 killed, thousands evacuated as rainstorms pound parts of China – Xinhua – July 28, 2024

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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