China: At least 15 dead after its coal region receives heavy rainfall, triggers flood
According to Wang, at least 1.75 million people have been affected by the floods across the province, with 120,000 safely evacuated.
FollowAt least 15 people perished earlier this month in north China's Shanxi province as a result of abnormally high rain and floods, according to local officials, after the normally dry region got three months' rain in one week. During a nationwide energy crisis, flooding devastated the coal-rich landlocked area, and floods in central Henan province killed more than 300 people in July.
At least 60 coal mines in the province — one of China's top coal-producing regions — were briefly stopped due to the floods, but all but four have now reopened, according to Wang Qirui, a local emergency management official. According to Wang, the harsh weather destroyed around 19,000 buildings and severely damaged another 18,000. He went on to say that fifteen people died as a consequence of the disaster, and three more are still missing.
Also Read |Â Chinese mouthpiece goes warmongering after derailing LAC talks
According to Wang, at least 1.75 million people have been affected by the floods across the province, with 120,000 safely evacuated. Photos released Tuesday by the Shanxi Evening News, a local state newspaper, showed traffic officers carrying students on their backs while wading through waist-deep water after numerous vehicles became stuck. According to the province administration, Shanxi got more than three times the usual monthly rainfall for October in only five days last week, with precipitation breaking records in numerous areas.
This year has seen exceptional floods in several parts of China. Due to severe rains this summer, thousands of people were evacuated in the Hubei and Sichuan provinces. Furthermore, more than 300 people were murdered last month in central China's Henan province due to record rainfall - a year's worth in three days. Experts say extreme weather events such as flash floods and severe droughts are becoming more prevalent due to climate change.
Also Read |Â China President Xi Jinping vows 'reunification' with Taiwan; Tsai Ing-wen says won't be forced to bow to China
