At least 47 people have died due to flooding in southern China
At least 47 people have died due to severe flooding and landslides in Guangdong, China, following heavy rainfall, according to reports from Chinese state media.
State broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the latest figures include 38 fatalities in a county governed by Meizhou, in addition to nine earlier reported deaths.
Heavy rains led to unprecedented flooding in rural areas of southern Guangdong province, where nine people died and six remain missing. Authorities have issued warnings of potential further flooding in other regions of the country.
In Guangdong’s Meizhou city, four individuals lost their lives and another four are missing in Meixian district, while five more were reported dead in Jiaoling county, as per a CCTV report on Thursday night.
Jiaoling County has experienced direct economic losses estimated at 3.65 billion yuan ($502 million), and Meixian district has faced losses amounting to 1.06 billion yuan ($146 million).
The National Meteorological Center has issued a warning for torrential rains and extreme weather conditions expected in several southern provinces and a few northern areas over the next 24 hours.
