News Desk

Tens of thousands of people across southern China have been evacuated, with many more potentially at risk, as deadly torrential rains continue to lash the region, causing flash flooding and mudslides.

Since June 9, at least 55 people have lost their lives, according to a Friday report from Chinese state media that included stunning imagery of buildings that seemed to be sinking and urban areas covered in water while emergency responders in speedboats sped to save stranded citizens.

At least 47 people have perished in Meizhou, Guangdong province, one of the hardest-hit cities, according to a report from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Friday. The claim came amid reports of record flooding along the banks of the Songyuanand Shiku rivers.

There are 127 million people living in the economically significant southern Guangdong province, which experiences yearly flooding from April to September. But in recent years, the area has experienced increasingly powerful downpours and catastrophic flooding, as scientists warn that the climate crisis will intensify extreme weather, making it more deadly and frequent.

Authorities in Meizhou raised the flood control emergency response to Level-I earlier this week, resulting in the evacuation of over 10,000 residents and the loss of up to 130,000 electricity, according to official media. There are four stages in China’s emergency response system for flood control, with Level I being the most serious.

According to CCTV, of those, 38 have been identified dead in the city’s Pingyuan county, while two were reported missing. The torrential rains also affected over 55,000 people, with an estimated 5.8 billion yuan ($799 million) in direct economic losses.

According to state media, there have been at least eight deaths in the neighboring southern province of Fujian; four of the deaths occurred in Wuping county, and the remaining deaths occurred in Shanghang county. The severe rainfall caused damage to approximately 586,500 people in 40 counties.