China: Flooding kills 56 in southern China as of July 4

Event

Recent flooding caused by heavy rain in southern China has resulted in 56 fatalities and 22 people reported missing in recent days, as of July 4. Heavy rains continue to disrupt road traffic and power supplies in China’s Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Sichuan, and Guizhou provinces. Flooding has forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate across Hunan.

Dozens of flights at major airports in southern China - including in Chengdu, Changsha, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen - have been canceled or delayed on July 4, stranding thousands of travelers at the airports. Trains also were halted and roads were cut off to many towns and villages in the region.

These relentless downpours could start to ease up in the coming days.

Context

The flooding has displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Hunan province and has cost about USD 1.22 billion (8.26 billion yuan) in economic loss, according to official estimates.
The rainy season in China generally begins in May or June in southern China and moves north in June and July.

Advice

Individuals present in areas affected by heavy rain and/or flooding are advised to monitor the situation, to avoid areas directly hit by flooding, and to adhere to any orders issued by the local authorities. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult.