China has experienced extreme weather this summer, with heavy rains in the south coinciding with a heatwave in the north.
The torrential downpours in Guangdong led to landslides and flooding in densely populated areas, causing record flooding in some areas.
Rescue efforts have been challenging due to the severity of the disaster, with more than 55,000 people affected, over 2,200 homes collapsed, and nearly 4,700 roads damaged.
The flooding also caused damage to power facilities, water pipelines, and crops, with estimated direct economic losses of 5.85 billion yuan ($805.7 million).
The central government has allocated 105 million yuan ($14.5 million) in emergency flood relief for affected areas.
Aside from Guangdong, other provinces and regions affected by the floods include Guangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou.
While the south grapples with heavy rains, northern China has been experiencing temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), prompting heat warnings and calls for residents to stay hydrated.
Rain showers in Beijing provided some relief from the heat, which had climbed to 37°C (98.6F) the previous week.
Scientists attribute the increase in extreme weather events like heavy rains and heatwaves to climate change, with China being the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
Beijing has pledged to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
