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Heavy rainfall across central and southern China has resulted in a rising death toll, reaching 22, with an additional 20 people still missing, according to state media reports on Wednesday. Many regions have experienced what officials describe as “record-breaking rainfall,” leading to closures of schools and workplaces, as well as the deployment of relief funds to affected areas.
In Hunan Province, five people have died, and 11 are missing following the severe weather, according to Xinhua. The previous day, the agency reported that over 61,500 residents in a single county were affected by the flooding without providing further details.
Southern Guangxi reported the death of 10 individuals after a truck was swept into a swollen river during a crossing attempt on Saturday evening; the first fatality from that incident was noted on Sunday. Guizhou Province, nearby, also suffered from intense rains, resulting in four deaths and five more people missing.
Further north in Hubei, floods caused by relentless rains have led to three deaths and four people missing. These floods also damaged infrastructure and cut off communication for some rural communities. The government allocated approximately 120 million yuan (about $17.6 million) in disaster relief funds for five of the affected regions, with an additional 30 million yuan directed to Guizhou, which has experienced significant casualties and property damage, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.
Nearly 24,000 people have been evacuated from flood-prone areas across Hunan, Guizhou, and Hubei. Forecasters expect ongoing heavy rainfall over the coming days. Scientists warn that as the planet continues to warm due to fossil fuel emissions, the frequency and severity of such extreme weather events will likely increase. China, the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gases, is also investing heavily in renewable energy and has set a goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
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