Massive floods threaten tens of millions as intense rains batter southern China

Multiple days of heavy rains have lashed southern China, unleashing deadly floods and threatening to upend the lives of tens of millions of people as rescuers rush to evacuate residents trapped by rising waters.

Guangdong province, an economic powerhouse home to 127 million people, has seen widespread flooding that has forced more than 110,000 people to be relocated, state media reported, citing the local government.

The floods have killed at least four people in Guangdong, including a rescue worker, state news agency Xinhua reported Monday. At least 10 people remain missing, it added.

Since April 16, sustained torrential rains have pounded the Pearl River Delta, China’s manufacturing heartland and one of the country’s most populated regions, with four weather stations in Guangdong registering record rainfall for April.

The Pearl River basin is subject to annual flooding from April to September, but the region has faced more intense rainstorms and severe floods in recent years as scientists warn that the climate crisis will amplify extreme weather, making it deadlier and more frequent.

“Judging from the flood control situation in recent years, climate warming and temperature rise have intensified, and extreme heavy rainfall occurs every year, leading to torrential rains and floods,” Yin Zhijie, chief hydrological forecaster at the Ministry of Water Resources, told state-run outlet The Paper.

Last year, China encountered “more intense and extreme” downpours during the flood season than in previous years, with 72 national weather stations registering record daily rainfall and 346 stations breaking monthly records, according to the China Meteorological Administration.

Since last week, at least 44 rivers in the Pearl River basin have swelled above the warning line, threatening to burst their banks, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/22/china/china-guangdong-floods-intl-hnk/index.html?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc

Comprehension

How many people have been forced to relocate in Guangdong province due to the floods?
How many people have died in Guangdong province due to the floods?
How many people are still missing in Guangdong province due to the floods?
Which region of China has been affected by the floods?
How many weather stations in Guangdong have registered record rainfall for April?
What is the name of the river basin that is subject to annual flooding from April to September?
What did the China Meteorological Administration report about the flood season last year?
How many rivers in the Pearl River basin have swelled above the warning line?

Discussion

Have you ever experienced a flood or heavy rain in your hometown?
How can communities prepare for floods and other natural disasters?
What are the potential impacts of climate change on natural disasters?
How can governments and organizations help communities affected by natural disasters?
What are some ways to reduce the risks of floods in urban areas?
How can individuals and communities work together to respond to natural disasters?
What are some of the challenges in predicting and preparing for natural disasters?
How can technology and innovation help in disaster management and response?
What are some of the social and economic impacts of natural disasters on communities?
How can we raise awareness and educate people about the risks of natural disasters?

Vocabulary

Lash- to hit or beat something with force
Rescuers- people who save or help others in danger
Evacuate- to move people from a dangerous place to a safe place
Torrential- very heavy and continuous rain or storm
Pounded- to hit something repeatedly and with force
Hydrological- related to the study of water and its movement
Amplify- to make something greater or more intense
Swell- to increase in size or volume