17 Killed, 1.3 Lakh Evacuated as Storms Batter China; Super Typhoon Bavi Approaches
Rescuers continue to search flooded areas in southern and central China after severe storms killed at least 17 people and forced over 1,30,000 residents to flee their homes. Officials warn of more rain and a new super typhoon heading towards eastern provinces.
In the Guangxi region, six people died and 1,30,000 were moved to safety after Typhoon Maysak brought torrential rain and severe flooding, according to regional officials. Fast-flowing muddy water burst the banks of 40 rivers and waterways, damaging nearly 13,000 acres of agricultural land, state media reported.
A hotel employee in Guigang city told AFP that water levels had risen to the height of a one-storey house over two days, forcing residents to evacuate to hotels or relatives' homes elsewhere. While waters have receded, standing water of over a metre remains in low-lying areas such as underpasses.
Videos from state broadcaster CCTV showed torrents of water rushing past the crumbled concrete walls of a burst reservoir dam, with rescue workers in life vests deployed on inflatable boats. Chinese authorities are sending additional disaster relief, including food, raincoats and rubber boats, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Guangxi authorities have maintained the second-highest level for flood-control emergency response, according to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters. Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying said flood peaks exceeding warning water levels by more than six metres are expected at the Wuzhou Hydrological Station early on Thursday.
In Hubei province, thunderstorms and gale-force winds killed 11 people and injured 331, with tornadoes reported late Monday. One person remains missing, Xinhua said, adding that 4,800 houses were damaged and 22 collapsed. President Xi Jinping urged rescuers to 'go all out' in emergency operations, according to CCTV.
Meanwhile, eastern provinces are preparing for Super Typhoon Bavi, which could make landfall near the Zhejiang-Fujian border between Saturday and Sunday, said Xiang Chunyi, Chief Typhoon Forecaster at the National Meteorological Centre. Bavi earlier tore through US Pacific territories, leaving tens of thousands without power on Guam and the Northern Marianas. Zhejiang's Party Secretary urged officials to shift into a 'state of combat readiness'. Jiangsu province will suspend all in-person educational activities at schools from Thursday afternoon through Friday, urging students and teachers to pay attention to typhoon safety.
