Torrential rain and flooding have wreaked havoc in southern China, particularly in the province of Guangdong, where tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate. The relentless rain, which has been falling since last week, intensified over the weekend, causing chaos in the region.
In the city of Yingde, in Guangdong’s north, nearly 20,000 people were evacuated as nine rivers were at risk of overflowing. The Beijiang River, a tributary of the Pearl River, flooded on Saturday night, with the Ministry of Water Resources warning of a potential “exceptionally large” flood through Monday.
Meanwhile, in Guangzhou, the Longxue neighborhood received nearly five inches of rain in just four hours on Sunday morning, the highest amount in the province. In Hong Kong, a waterspout was sighted over water by the local meteorological agency, though no damage was reported.
The heavy rain is not limited to Guangdong, as neighboring provinces such as Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Fujian are also experiencing downpours. The China Weather Network has forecasted that the heaviest rain will shift to the east of Guangdong on Monday, with some areas expected to receive up to 10 inches of rain in 24 hours.
As the rain continues to pour, forecasters are warning of violent winds and possible flooding in the region. Thunderstorms and heavy showers are also expected in Hong Kong on Monday. The rainfall is expected to ease by Tuesday, providing some relief to the waterlogged region.
