Storms hit south China, leaving tens of thousands evacuated and several people missing

In recent days, Guangdong, a large province in the south, has seen heavy rain, which has swollen waterways and stoked worries of major flooding that is only “seen around once a century.”

Following storms that pounded southern China, eleven individuals are reported missing by state media, while tens of thousands of residents were evacuated to avoid the intense rains.

Xinhua, the state news agency, said on Monday that “a total of 11 people are missing after continuous heavy rainfall hit many parts of (Guangdong) in recent days,” citing the local emergency management department.

It further stated that around 53,000 individuals have been moved throughout the province.

According to official media on Sunday, more than 45,000 of them were evacuated from Qingyuan, a city in northern Guangdong that sits astride the banks of the Bei River, a tributary of the larger Pearl River Delta.

In recent days, Guangdong, a large province in southern China, saw a lot of rain, which swelled waterways and created fears of severe floods that could only be “seen around once a century.”

It is predicted by meteorological authorities that there will be “thunderstorms and strong winds in Guangdong’s coastal waters” on Monday, with heavy rain continuing. Guangdong is a region of the sea that borders Shenzhen and Hong Kong, among other significant cities.

“Short-term heavy rainfall” will also affect neighboring provinces, including portions of Guizhou, Guangxi, and Fujian, according to the National Meteorological Center.

“It is expected that the main impact period of strong convection will last from daytime until night,” it stated.

Home to almost 127 million people, Guangdong province is China’s heavily populated manufacturing heartland.

Six people were hurt and several more were stranded in landslides in Jiangwan on Sunday as a result of heavy rain, according to state media.