Eleven individuals are unaccounted for after storms struck southern China, according to state media on Monday. Tens of thousands of people were moved away from the heavy rain.
In the recent days, intense rain has fallen on the large southern province of Guangdong, causing rivers to swell and raising concerns about severe floods. State media referred to this as a once-in-a-century event.
State news agency Xinhua reported that 11 people are missing due to continuous heavy rain in various parts of Guangdong.
The province has relocated over 53,000 individuals, as stated by the authorities.
A report from state media on Sunday revealed that more than 45,000 people were evacuated from Qingyuan, a city in northern Guangdong, situated along the Bei River in the Pearl River Delta.
The meteorological authorities anticipate the continuation of heavy rain on Monday, with a forecast of thunderstorms and strong winds in the coastal waters of Guangdong, which border major cities including Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
The National Meteorological Centre stated that neighboring provinces such as Fujian, Guizhou, and Guangxi will also experience short-term heavy rainfall.
According to the center, the main impact period of strong convection is expected to last from daytime until night.
Guangdong province is home to roughly 127 million people and serves as China’s densely populated manufacturing hub.
State media reported that in Jiangwan, six people sustained injuries and several others became trapped in landslides caused by heavy rain on Sunday.
Photographs from state broadcaster CCTV depicted waterfront homes destroyed by muddy streams and individuals seeking refuge on a drenched public sports court.
CCTV announced that Pearl River tributaries would witness floods exceeding the warning limit by 5.8 meters (19 feet) on Monday morning.
While China has a history of extreme weather, in recent years the nation has experienced severe floods, prolonged droughts, and record high temperatures.
Human-induced climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense, and China stands as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
