Wild southern storms claim 70 lives
Source: Xinhua |
May 10, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE fatality toll from fierce rainstorms that have ravaged China's south climbed to 70 yesterday, with five people previously listed as missing in Jiangxi Province found dead.
The rainstorms have affected millions of people in the municipality of Chongqing and the provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Hunan.
More storms are forecast for coming days.
The storms began battering the south last Wednesday. As of Friday, the severe weather had adversely affected up to 2.55 million residents, about 100,000 hectares of farmland and toppled 9,900 houses, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said in a statement on its Website.
The rainstorms triggered flash floods and mud-rock flows and led to swollen rivers and burst dikes.
They also threatened reservoirs and damaged highways, bridges and power and telecom facilities.
The office has ordered local authorities to closely monitor the development of rainstorms, make all efforts to avert disasters like floods and landslides and provide early warnings. The office has also sent work teams to storm-hit regions to help in relief efforts.
In Hunan, about 5,000 reservoirs are under threat from rising water. In Jiangxi, 264,600 people have been affected, and 5,884 homes toppled.
Direct economic losses are thus far estimated at 526.6 million yuan (US$77.15 million).
Local authorities are relocating residents and repairing facilities.
China's National Meteorological Center said yesterday there was no respite in sight for the south of the nation for the next two days, with more heavy rain and accompanying gales and hail in some areas.
Regions tipped to be affected are the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangdong Province, Fujian Province, southern parts of Hunan Province, southern and eastern parts of Jiangxi Province, southern parts of Zhejiang Province, southern parts of Guizhou Province and southeastern parts of Yunnan Province.
Eastern parts of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, southwest parts of Heilongjiang Province in the northeast and northwest parts of Sichuan Province will also experience heavy rain, according to the NMC.
"China's flood season usually starts in June, but southern China has entered its flood season already," said NMC meteorologist Sun Jun.
It is possible China will experience more extreme weather this year, according to a China Meteorological Administration forecast.
The rainstorms have affected millions of people in the municipality of Chongqing and the provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Hunan.
More storms are forecast for coming days.
The storms began battering the south last Wednesday. As of Friday, the severe weather had adversely affected up to 2.55 million residents, about 100,000 hectares of farmland and toppled 9,900 houses, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said in a statement on its Website.
The rainstorms triggered flash floods and mud-rock flows and led to swollen rivers and burst dikes.
They also threatened reservoirs and damaged highways, bridges and power and telecom facilities.
The office has ordered local authorities to closely monitor the development of rainstorms, make all efforts to avert disasters like floods and landslides and provide early warnings. The office has also sent work teams to storm-hit regions to help in relief efforts.
In Hunan, about 5,000 reservoirs are under threat from rising water. In Jiangxi, 264,600 people have been affected, and 5,884 homes toppled.
Direct economic losses are thus far estimated at 526.6 million yuan (US$77.15 million).
Local authorities are relocating residents and repairing facilities.
China's National Meteorological Center said yesterday there was no respite in sight for the south of the nation for the next two days, with more heavy rain and accompanying gales and hail in some areas.
Regions tipped to be affected are the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangdong Province, Fujian Province, southern parts of Hunan Province, southern and eastern parts of Jiangxi Province, southern parts of Zhejiang Province, southern parts of Guizhou Province and southeastern parts of Yunnan Province.
Eastern parts of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, southwest parts of Heilongjiang Province in the northeast and northwest parts of Sichuan Province will also experience heavy rain, according to the NMC.
"China's flood season usually starts in June, but southern China has entered its flood season already," said NMC meteorologist Sun Jun.
It is possible China will experience more extreme weather this year, according to a China Meteorological Administration forecast.
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