Chinese government sources say that between 18 and 20 April 2015, south-central, south-eastern, and also south-western provinces of the country were affected by floods and severe weather including heavy rainfall, hail, strong winds and thunderstorms.
The severe weather in China over the last few days has left at least one person dead and caused widespread damage to property and crops. The worst affected provinces include Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou and also Chongqing municipality. The northern province of Shaanxi has also been affected by bad weather in the last 3 days.
Call for Improvements in Flood Control
At this year’s first meeting of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief on 07 April 2015, Chinese vice premier Wang Yang urged local governments to speed up flood prevention projects and improve forecasting and disaster alarm systems. Both severe floods and droughts have been predicted for China this year.
An increased flood threat is of major concern to a country that has seen such rapid urbanisation over the last few years. Back in 2007, Chen Lei, Minister of Water Resources, predicted that 41% of China’s population will be living in economically-developed areas and cities that are prone to floods by 2020. He said:
“By 2020, the cities in the middle and lower reaches of China’s major rivers will accommodate 600 million people”
The recent spate of severe weather comes after the government announced that natural disasters in China during the first quarter of 2015 left 31 people dead and affected about 5.23 million people. Between January and March, as many as 93,000 people were displaced, 169,000 houses damaged and 380,000 hectares of crops affected by natural disasters. Earthquakes, cold weather and snowstorms were the main natural disasters during the first three months. Drought, floods, hail, landslides, mudslides and forest fires also caused damage.
Floods, Heavy Rain and Storms in Southern China, 18 to 21 April 2015
Hunan Province
Authorities say that 1,300 people were forced from their homes as a result of floods and sever weather in Hunan province. Almost 3,000 homes have been damaged, with over 100 completely destroyed. In Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, one person was killed and more than 2,800 houses were damaged.
Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou and Chongqing
According to local authorities, as many as 24,000 houses have been damaged as a result of the severe weather.
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region authorities say that 1.1 million people were affected by the heavy rain, hail and floods. More than 400 people needed emergency assistance. Crops and around 800 houses were reported damaged.
In Chongqing Municipality, 4,000 houses were damaged and 100s were evacuated .
According to the Guizhou Provincial Civil Affairs Department more than 200 people have been evacuated and 2,000 houses damaged.
Shaanxi Province
According to the Shaanxi Provincial Civil Affairs Department, parts of the province suffered severe weather from 20 April, including heavy hailstorms. Areas around Yanan, Xianyang and Liquan have been worst affected.
