Torrential Rains in China Leave 30 Dead, Dozens Missing Amid Historic Heatwave
China is reeling from torrential rains that have killed at least 30 people and left dozens more missing, as the country grapples with another summer of extreme weather. The confirmation of the deaths came on the same day that weather authorities announced July as the hottest month since records began six decades ago.
China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is experiencing intense heatwaves in the north and heavy rain in the central and southern regions. The downpours were triggered by Typhoon Gaemi, which made landfall in eastern China a week ago, particularly affecting the hilly and landlocked Hunan province.
Over 11,000 people were evacuated from the city of Zixing after record rainfall of 645 millimeters (25 inches) in just 24 hours, according to state news agency Xinhua. Many roads connecting townships in the area were temporarily cut off, affecting power supply and communications infrastructure. State broadcaster CCTV reported that the disruption was mostly over, with initial findings showing 30 deaths and 35 people missing.
Premier Li Qiang visited two villages in Zixing on Thursday to assess the disaster relief efforts and damage. He emphasized the need to guard against secondary disasters like mountain torrents and mudslides.
Meanwhile, the national weather office announced that last month was the hottest July since records began in 1961, with an average temperature of 23.21 degrees Celsius (73.78 Fahrenheit), exceeding the previous record of 23.17C in 2017. The southwestern provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan logged their highest averages, and temperatures are expected to continue climbing in eastern regions, including Shanghai, where a red alert for extreme heat is in place.
The news comes just a week after the Earth experienced its warmest day in recorded history, with a global average temperature of 17.15C on July 22. China has pledged to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions to a peak by 2030 and net zero by 2060, but has resisted calls to be more ambitious.
In recent years, China has emerged as a renewable energy leader, building almost twice as much wind and solar energy capacity as every other country combined. Despite this progress, the country still relies heavily on coal power to fuel its massive economy.
