Tragedy struck the northwestern Chinese city of Xian as mudslides and flooding claimed the lives of two individuals, with 16 others reported as missing, according to a report from China Central Television (CCTV) on Saturday.
This disaster occurred in the aftermath of heavy rainfall and widespread floods that have wreaked havoc in numerous regions across China. The country has been grappling with extreme weather conditions, further intensified by the impact of Typhoon Doksuri, which made landfall in the southern Fujian province nearly three weeks ago.
In Xian, the destructive forces of nature resulted in the loss of two houses in a village, leaving behind a trail of damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and power supply facilities, as reported by CCTV. In response to this crisis, search and rescue teams, along with personnel focused on reinforcing river banks, have been deployed to the affected area.
Unfortunately, the situation is not expected to improve soon, as the Qinling Mountains in Xian are predicted to continue experiencing extreme weather, potentially leading to soil erosion and triggering additional mudslides, as highlighted by CCTV.
Beyond Xian, other regions have also been grappling with the consequences of heavy rain and powerful winds. In the capital city, Beijing, and the northeastern city of Harbin, certain train services were suspended due to adverse weather conditions, as detailed in separate reports on CCTV.
In the southwestern Guangxi region, the city of Nanning faced heavy rainfall on Friday, causing urban flooding. Commuters during rush hour were forced to navigate waterlogged streets using vehicles and motorcycles, a challenging situation described in a separate report by CCTV. Local authorities took swift action by setting up cordons to facilitate drainage work on some roads. Additionally, nearly 3,900 police personnel were dispatched to provide assistance in the city.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for proactive measures and response strategies to cope with the increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and the potential impact of natural disasters in various parts of China.