A rare combination of record rainfall, heat, and tornadoes that hit China in Guangzhou this week has forced millions of people to flee their homes, damage property, and flood farmland, according to Reuters.
Heavy rains are forecast in southern China by Tuesday, Chinese state television said today, adding that normalization of the weather in the vast and densely populated region flooded by last week’s rains will not happen any time soon.
Authorities issued a warning about “extreme weather events” in April, before the start of the rainy season during the transition from spring to summer.
Floods are common in China, but recently the country has become even more vulnerable due to deforestation, drainage of swamps, and the construction of dams used to generate electricity and irrigation. Authorities blame climate change for extreme weather events.
“Climate change has already had serious negative consequences for China’s natural ecosystem and continues to affect the economy and society,” the national climate change strategy said Monday.
According to local media reports, during a heavy downpour yesterday, tornadoes hit some parts of Guangzhou, cutting off electricity to more than 5,400 consumers in the southern city.
Local media reported dangerous water levels and large waves in the Pearl River (Pearl River), forcing the central government to send flood prevention teams. On Tuesday, the city’s observation post recorded a wave height of 2.45 meters, the highest in 20 years.
A meteorological station in Fujian Province warned yesterday that the rains will continue next week, which carries a huge risk of natural disasters.
Meanwhile, next week’s temperatures in central and northern China are expected to reach extremely high levels – above 40 degrees Celsius.
Extremely hot weather has already hit the capital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, which suffered a record amount of rain last summer and was paralyzed by devastating floods.