Torrential rains claim eight lives in southern China’s Guangdong province
Meteorological department forecasts heavy downpour in southern China over the weekend
At least eight people were killed and four reported missing in Maoming city, Guangdong province, as rain lashed the mainland’s south and west.
The National Meteorological Centre forecast torrential rain in Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian and Yunnan and on Saturday issued a blue alert – the lowest on its four-tier system – for heavy rain in the mainland’s south over the weekend. Parts of these provinces would experience rainfall of between 100 and 130 millimetres within 24 hours, it said.
The National Flood Control and Drought Relief Command Centre said Sichuan, Guizhou and Chongqing would experience rainstorms until Tuesday. It warned the downpour could cause flooding, landslides and mudslides.
Guangdong suffered severe flooding and landslides and the downpour affected more than 550,000 people from 23 towns in Maoming city. The rains caused massive flight delays and cancellations at airports in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai.