Landslide kills 8 in Hunan as extreme rainfall in China continues to wreak havoc
- Insurance estimates put damage at more than US$85 million and rising as flooding rains move across the country
Eight people died after a landslide hit their homes in central Hunan province on Sunday as extreme rains continue to batter southern China while extending into other parts of the country.
More than 300 rescuers – from local police, emergency, power and health authorities – battled to free the victims, who belonged to two families, after four houses were struck early on Sunday morning, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The eight missing were found on Sunday night and declared dead by medical workers on the scene, according to the report.
Multiple cities in Hunan have been affected by the extreme weather, with the heaviest rainfall recorded at Taoyuan county, which saw 39.5cm (15.6 inches) of rain from Friday to Saturday night.
The Beijing News reported that eight people were swept away in floodwaters on Saturday morning, with seven later rescued, while a total of 4,000 residents were evacuated from Taoyuan where more than 50km (31 miles) of roads were forced to close.
Multiple rivers rose rapidly, with a tributary of the Zi River reaching a record high of 95.68 metres (314ft) on Sunday morning, according to Hunan’s water resources department.
Six flood alerts were issued on Monday morning in the provincial capital Changsha and neighbouring cities, with local water resources bureaus warning that multiple rivers are still on the rise.