What Happened to the Five Missing Amid Heavy Rainfall in China?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Five individuals reported missing in Zhaotong.
- Over 7,000 people evacuated to safety.
- Search and rescue operations are actively ongoing.
- Severe weather conditions affect neighboring regions.
- Authorities are on high alert for potential flooding.
Kunming, July 9 (NationPress) — Reports indicate that five individuals are currently missing following relentless rainfall in Zhaotong, a mountainous region in southwest China's Yunnan Province, as stated by local officials on Wednesday.
Intense downpours have significantly affected various areas of Zhaotong since Tuesday morning, causing destructive effects in multiple counties under its jurisdiction.
According to an initial report, two homes in Luobu Township, Weixin County, were completely washed away, resulting in five individuals being unaccounted for. Search and rescue operations are currently in progress.
Zhaotong authorities have initiated comprehensive rescue and disaster relief operations, successfully evacuating over 7,000 people to safer locations by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, reported the Xinhua news agency.
Earlier in the day, a landslide triggered by the heavy rains buried a house in Shizhuang Village, Xuyong County in southwest China's Sichuan Province, leaving five people missing, according to local officials.
From Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, significant rainfall impacted Zhengdong Township, Xuyong County. The county government has reported the relocation of 24 residents from the vicinity of the landslide.
Search and rescue efforts for those unaccounted for are ongoing.
Emergency personnel, healthcare professionals, geological experts, fire and rescue teams, and local disaster relief units have been deployed to the affected sites.
Additionally, neighboring Chongqing Municipality has also experienced severe rainfall since Tuesday, with over 100 rainfall stations recording precipitation classified as extreme heavy rain and heavy rain, according to the municipal meteorological and emergency management departments.
Moderate to heavy rain is anticipated to continue in central and western Chongqing on Wednesday, with isolated torrential showers. Authorities have issued warnings regarding rising water levels in certain rivers across the region, with some areas at risk of surpassing flood alert thresholds in the coming days.
In response, China's Ministry of Water Resources has activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in south China's Guangdong Province, which has been affected by the repercussions of Typhoon Danas.
The ministry predicts that from Wednesday to Friday, heavy to torrential rain will impact Guangdong, particularly in the north and east, leading to significant increases in water levels in selected rivers.
Local authorities have been urged to monitor weather developments closely, improve predictions regarding rainfall and water conditions, and implement scientifically sound flood control measures across water projects.
The ministry has maintained a Level-IV emergency response for flood control in Zhejiang, Fujian, Chongqing, and Sichuan, while working groups are assisting with flood prevention and control in Zhejiang, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Shaanxi.