Seven killed due to heavy rainfall in China's Hunan
Beijing, May 23
The death toll from heavy rainfall in Shimen County, central China's Hunan Province, rose to seven, with 14 others still missing, local authorities said.
Among the missing, five were added following further investigation, according to the county's emergency management and production safety committee. Search and rescue operations are underway, reports Xinhua news agency.
The severe downpour started at 7 a.m. Sunday. It is the first round of torrential rain to hit the county this year. A total of 23 townships and districts have been affected, according to the municipal emergency management bureau of Changde City, which administers Shimen.
Search and rescue operations are underway, alongside efforts to repair damaged infrastructure and guarantee daily necessities for affected residents.
The National Development and Reform Commission said on Wednesday that it has urgently allocated 50 million yuan (about 7.31 million US dollars) from the central government's investment budget to support post-flood emergency recovery efforts in Hunan Province.
Some areas in Hunan have been hit by severe flooding, resulting in heavy casualties and property losses. Continuous heavy rainfall has lashed the province's Shimen County, leaving five people dead and 11 others missing, according to local authorities.
Additionally, the authorities dispatched 15,000 pieces of disaster relief supplies to the central province of Hubei as heavy rains and flooding continued to affect the region, the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) said Wednesday.
The disaster aid package, which includes summer quilts, folding tables and chairs, and household emergency kits, will help local authorities resettle affected residents, provide relief assistance and ensure their basic living needs are met.
The supplies were allocated by the office of the national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief, the MEM, and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.
Heavy rainfall has lashed southern and central China in recent days, triggering floods and geological disasters. On Tuesday, China allocated 120 million yuan (about 17.5 million US dollars) to five provincial-level regions: Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Chongqing and Guizhou
— IANS
Reader Comments
With the monsoon season approaching in India too, this is a reminder to stay vigilant 😟. The Chinese government is acting quickly with relief funds and supplies. We should also learn from their approach to disaster preparedness.
It's terrible when nature takes a toll like this. I read that China has been investing heavily in flood control infrastructure, but heavy rainfall can overwhelm any system. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones 🙏.
The allocation of 50 million yuan is good, but why does it always take a disaster to prompt such action? Preemptive measures could save more lives. Still, I appreciate the transparency in reporting the casualties and rescue efforts.
As an outsider, I'm always impressed by how quickly China mobilises resources during natural disasters. The supply of 15,000 relief items to Hubei shows their logistical strength. Praying for the affected families in Hunan and Hubei 🌧️.
This is a stark reminder of climate change's impact. China's Hunan and Hubei are seeing heavy downpours just like our own flood-prone states. The government's centralised approach seems effective in deploying funds and supplies quickly. Hope India strengthens its disaster response too.
M Michael C Terrible We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.