Local media in China have reported that around 150,000 people have been evacuated from their homes after floods inundated areas of China’s southern province of Hainan. Emergency services in some areas were forced to use boats to carry out evacuations.
The heavy rainfall began on Friday 13 December. Since then around 300mm of rain has fallen in areas surrounding the city of Wanning. In Wanning City itself rainfall and flooding has been extreme, with 510mm of rain falling since Friday. Elsewhere ion the island, 105mm of rainfall fell in 24 hours between 14-15 Decembe in Qionghai city.
The heavy rainfall is forecast to continue for at least 24 more hours, particularly in the east of the island. Villages in low-lying areas of the region have been inundated. The threat of landslides is now of particular concern in some rural, hilly areas.
Heavy rainfall has also been affecting other areas of south China since 14 December. Zhanjiang city in Guangdong province saw 102mm of rain in 24 hours on 15 December.
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Sources: Xinhua
