South China – Floods, Hail and Landslides Leave 5 Dead, 17,000 Evacuated and 1,100 Homes Destroyed

by in Asia, News

Severe weather that began on 19 March has caused floods and landslides in several provinces in south west and south east China.

China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs says that the provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Guizhou are worst hit. At least 5 people have died and 17,000 evacuated. Authorities say that 1,100 homes have been destroyed and 72,000 damaged. As many as 88.1 million people have been affected.

In Jiangxi, 3,200 have been evacuated. One person was reported killed in a landslide. Over 5,000 have been evacuated in Hunan province, and 8,300 in Guangdong, where four people were killed when a building collapsed. In Guangxi, 57,000 houses have been damaged in the severe weather.

Rainfall

Between 20 and 21 March 2016, Heyuan, Guangdong recorded 103 mm of rain in 24 hours. Later, between 22 and 23 March, Zhangping, Fujian recorded 91 mm in 24 hours and Ganzhou, Jiangxi 76 mm.

Forecast

China Meteorological Administration (CMA) say that further heavy rain is likely in some areas of Guangdong, the southern coast of Guangxi, southern Fujian, northern Taiwan, and eastern Yunnan. Some areas could see hourly rainfall between 20 and 40 mm.

CMA say that the recent heavy rain marks an early start to the “flood season” in South China, coming about 2 weeks ahead of time.