China is reeling under the impact of increasingly extreme weather events as climate change takes its toll. The southern province of Guangdong has been battered by torrential rains, forcing the evacuation of over 100,000 people and triggering the highest level of alert. Flooding has already claimed the lives of four individuals, with another 10 reported missing. The incessant rainfall has swollen rivers in Guangdong, prompting state media to issue warnings of potential floods of a magnitude witnessed only once a century. Footage captured across the province depicts submerged villages, farmland, and urban areas, along with collapsed bridges and vehicles adrift in floodwaters. In addition to the 110,000 evacuees, at least 25,000 have sought shelter in emergency facilities. Guangzhou, the provincial capital, has recorded an unprecedented 609mm of rainfall in April alone, exceeding the previous monthly maximum since records began in 1959. The relentless downpour has battered the Pearl River Delta region, a manufacturing hub housing approximately 127 million people, for close to a week. While heavy rains are typically expected in September, the region has been experiencing more frequent and intense rainstorms and floods in recent years. Authorities in Shenzhen, China’s third-largest city, have advised residents to take precautions and steer clear of flood-prone areas as the red alert remains in effect. They have warned of potential hazards such as waterlogging, flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and ground caving. A United Nations report released on Tuesday highlighted Asia as the region most severely impacted by climate change in 2023, with floods and storms accounting for a significant portion of the fatalities and economic losses. Scientists attribute the increase in extreme weather conditions to climate change, primarily driven by human-emitted greenhouse gases. As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China faces heightened vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change. The China Meteorological Administration reported last November that 72 national weather stations had recorded record daily rainfall, while 346 stations broke monthly records during the previous flood season. Notably, China has also endured droughts and intense heatwaves in recent months.
China Grapples with Devastating Extreme Weather as Climate Change Intensifies
