Heavy rain and flash floods in southwestern and central China this week killed at least 22 people, forced tens of thousands to evacuate their homes and flooded cities and farmland, Chinese state media reported.
The storm — the most intense to hit China this year — began dumping rain in these areas on Friday, and up to 12 inches fell across seven provinces over about five days, state media reported. In Fangchenggang, a coastal city near Vietnam, total rainfall reached about 32 inches, according to Xinhua, China’s state news agency.
The rainfall and flooding were especially severe in Hunan, a mountainous southern province where five people died and 11 others went missing, state media reported. The storm forced more than 31,000 evacuations, the provincial government said. The floods damaged roads, bridges and other properties, according to Xinhua.
The authorities on Wednesday activated a national disaster relief response for the flooding in Hunan, Xinhua reported.
The heavy rain caused floods in large parts of towns and cities in southwestern China. In some areas, people had to wade through the brown, knee-deep water that filled streets and parking lots, photos from state media showed.
In Guangxi, a region bordering Vietnam, 10 people died when a vehicle plunged into a river, Xinhua reported. In Guizhou, a southwestern province, four people died and five others went missing, according to People’s Daily, a state newspaper. CCTV, a Chinese state broadcaster, said three died and four others were missing in Hubei, a central province.
Forecasters issued a flood warning on Tuesday that was expected to last into Wednesday in parts of southeastern China as the storm moved across the region.
The China Meteorological Administration said on Wednesday that about eight more inches of rain could still fall in the southern regions, including in Hong Kong, raising the risk of more flooding in cities.
China’s rainy season typically runs from May to October, though in southern China it begins early, usually from April to September.
Li You contributed research. Nazaneen Ghaffar contributed reporting.