China Severe Weather Kills Eight in Hubei Tornadoes and Storms
China severe weather has struck multiple regions with deadly force, as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in central China's Hubei Province killed at least eight people, injured 275 others and left one missing, while a separate landslide in Gansu buried 16 and Super Typhoon Bavi approached from the Pacific. [3]
Deadly Tornadoes Strike Hubei Province
Strong winds up to 149 km/h and tornadoes hit Huangshi, Huanggang, Ezhou and Xianning in Hubei on Monday night, killing eight and injuring at least 275. [3] Multiple areas in the eastern part of Hubei Province experienced severe convective weather on Monday, with thunderstorms and strong winds sweeping through cities including Huangshi and Huanggang. [5] Tornadoes were reported in some areas and one person is missing. [5] The extent of the damage is currently being verified and rescue operations are fully underway. [5] Tornadoes wreak havoc across central China, leaving eight killed as Typhoon Bavi looms offshore. [2] At least 275 people had been injured by Tuesday morning local time. [3] Strong winds and storms hit the cities of Huangshi, Huanggang, Ezhou and Xianning late on Monday evening local time, with winds reaching 149 km/h. [3]
Landslide Buries Victims in Gansu
At least 16 people are still buried following a landslide in the mountainous region of China’s western province of Gansu. [3] A total of 33 people were initially trapped, with 17 now successfully rescued. [3] Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered an all-out effort to rescue those affected by the natural disaster. [3] While the cause of the landslide remained unclear, China has been hit by deadly thunderstorms this week. [3]
Tornado damage in Hubei Province after severe storms killed eight people. — Source: vnexpress
Flooding and Damage from Typhoon Maysak
Heavy rains and severe flooding from Typhoon Maysak killed at least two people in the southern region of Guangxi. [5] Authorities evacuated at least 48,000 people as of Monday evening. [5] Officials in Nanning, Guangxi's capital, raised the city's flood control emergency response to the highest level after torrential rain breached dams. [5] About 170 miles away in the city of Guigang, floodwaters turned a wide road into a lake, submerging cars and cascading in brown torrents down a hill into a building site. [5] The water level at Guigang Hydrological Station had risen to 42 meters by 12:30 p.m., the Ministry of Water Resources said in a statement. [5] Further south in Fangchenggang, another verified video showed a small car being washed down a street. [5] The water rose to the level of another car's steering wheel, and a man could be seen struggling to keep his electric scooter from being swept away. [5] Following the disaster, China's state planner released 100 million yuan for relief work in Guangxi, while the finance ministry and emergency management authorities provided 160 million yuan to support flood and typhoon response efforts across six provincial-level regions, including Guangxi. [5]
Approaching Super Typhoon Bavi
China is also on alert for Super Typhoon Bavi, which is making its way across the Pacific Ocean towards Taiwan. [3] The US National Weather Service said it was packing winds of up to 290 km/h as it made its way across Guam, Tinian, Saipan, and Rota on Monday. [3] Weather authorities warned that Bavi will bring strong winds and heavy rain to eastern China from Thursday. [5] Tornadoes wreak havoc across central China, eight killed as Typhoon Bavi looms offshore. [2] Storms kill at least eight in central China as Typhoon Bavi looms offshore. [4]
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Further Weather Warnings and Risks
Forecasters have warned of more torrential rain across various parts of the country that are home to about 200 million people. [3] The National Meteorological Centre said the southeastern region of Guangxi and eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Shandong should brace for extremely heavy rain of up to 260 mm over the next 24 hours, which can trigger landslides, with other areas to China’s northeast and south expecting tornadoes. [3] Heavy rainfall is expected across Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan and other regions in the coming days. [5] The three areas alone are home to over 150 million people. [5]
Context of Extreme Weather in China
Natural disasters are common across China, particularly in the summer, when some regions experience intense rainfall while others bake in scorching heat. [5] Scientists warn the intensity and frequency of global extreme weather events will increase as the planet continues to heat up because of fossil fuel emissions. [5] China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, but it is also a global renewable energy powerhouse that aims to make its massive economy carbon-neutral by 2060. [5] China, the world's second-largest economy, faces growing threats from extreme weather, which meteorologists link to climate change. [5] Analysts say weather-related risks each year stand to wipe out tens of billions of dollars' worth of commercial activity, as cities flood, industrial activity stalls and crops are submerged or washed away. [5]
What to watch next: Super Typhoon Bavi will bring strong winds and heavy rain to eastern China from Thursday, with additional torrential rain up to 260 mm expected in Guangxi, Jiangsu and Shandong that could trigger landslides and tornadoes in northeast and southern areas.
