Introduction
The first weeks of summer in China have been marked by a series of extreme weather events, with destruction and deaths in various parts of the country. In this article, we will analyze the impacts of the tornadoes and typhoons that have affected China, focusing on the recent events in Hubei province and the Guangxi region.
Tornadoes in Hubei
In Hubei province, central China, two tornadoes left at least 11 people dead on Monday (6/7). In addition, the tornadoes left more than 300 people injured and one missing. More than 20 houses collapsed, and another 4,800 were damaged. In total, at least 14,600 people were affected.
Typhoon Maysak in Guangxi
In Guangxi, southern China, the passage of Typhoon Maysak killed another 15 people and forced the evacuation of nearly 62,000. The capital Nanning was the most affected by the passage of Maysak over the weekend. The storm raised the level of rivers and reservoirs, resulting in floods with “serious loss of life and property”, according to the city government.
Super Typhoon Bavi
Super Typhoon Bavi is now advancing towards the southern Chinese coast, after hitting the islands of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific. The winds reached 290 km/h, knocking down trees and power lines, as well as interrupting the water supply. Tens of thousands of people were left without electricity. Fortunately, there were no reports of deaths.
Consequences and Forecasts
The expectation is that Super Typhoon Bavi will hit China over the weekend, still with maximum intensity. This may cause more devastation and loss of life. It is essential that Chinese authorities take measures to prepare the population and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.
Conclusion
The extreme weather events that have affected China are a reminder of the importance of preparing for natural disasters. It is essential that Chinese authorities and the general population take measures to reduce risks and mitigate the impacts of these events.
Source / Reference
This article was based on information from ClimaInfo, AFP, Al-Jazeera, AP, New York Times and Reuters.