Endless rain in China causes 100 landslides, traps residents

A man rides a scooter through mud and debris after heavy rainfall flooded Tangxia town in Dongguan, Guangdong province, China, September 9, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song

BEIJING — Days of relentless rain from the remnants of former Typhoon Haikui have caused more than 100 landslides, trapped about 1,360 residents in floodwaters, and killed at least seven people in China’s south, the state media said.

Typhoon Haikui hit southern China eight days ago and has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, but incessant rain continues to deluge southwestern Guangxi.

Persistent storms in the last three days in most areas of Yulin City caused 115 landslides that destroyed roads, uprooting trees, inducing floods, and leading authorities to issue a warning of emergencies on national and provincial trunk highways, the state media said.

Three people remain missing, and rescue operations are ongoing.

READ: Rains from dying typhoon batter China for seventh day

Further south, near the coast, Beihai City was inundated by a widespread downpour. Rescuers were seen treading thigh-deep in waterlogged areas, evacuating residents in boats. About 1,360 people were trapped on Tuesday, the state media said.

The city’s observatory raised its storm warning to the highest in a four-tier alert system after more than 101mm (4 inches) of rain poured in three hours on Tuesday morning and flagged risks of flash floods, geological disasters and waterlogging in urban and rural areas.

An aerial view shows a flooded village in Shankou town after heavy rainfall in Hepu county, Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, September 11, 2023. cnsphoto via REUTERS

Haikui, which weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall in southeastern Fujian province on September 5, had last week wreaked havoc in the populous city of Shenzhen, dumping historic rainfall since records began in 1952. The worst storm also pelted neighboring Hong Kong in 140 years.

READ: South China soaks as rains from Haikui continue to pound region

Scientists warn that typhoons hitting China are becoming more intense and their paths growing more complex, escalating the risk of disaster, even in coastal cities such as Shenzhen that already have strong flood defense capabilities.

China Meteorological Administration forecast heavy rains in the south and southeast of Guangxi on Tuesday and Wednesday, with storms in the southwest. It said that localized hourly precipitation could hit 70mm (2.76 inches) in some areas.

The national forecaster also warned relevant departments and people in Guangdong and Guangxi to be alert to any delayed effects of disasters from frequent rainfall in recent days.