Persistent Heavy Rains and Flooding Continue in Southern China Due to Typhoon Haikui

Persistent Heavy Rains and Flooding Continue in Southern China Due to Typhoon Haikui

VoM News Desk | September 11, 2023 | 02:42 AM IST | Asia, Breaking News, World | Follow on Google News

Persistent Heavy Rains and Flooding Continue in Southern China Due to Typhoon Haikui. Image/Reuters

Slow-Moving Typhoon Haikui Causes Ongoing Flooding in Southern China

For the seventh consecutive day, southern China has been experiencing heavy rains and flooding as a result of Typhoon Haikui. The slow-moving storm system has caused widespread inundation, blocked roads, and trapped residents in low-lying areas. The affected regions include Guangdong on the coast and Guangxi, where rescuers have been working to evacuate residents stranded in their homes.

Rural County of Bobai in Guangxi Hit Hard

In the rural county of Bobai in Guangxi, water levels have risen to more than 2 meters (6.6 feet), leaving residents in low-rise homes stranded. Rescue teams, using assault boats, have been engaged in efforts to pull people to safety since Sunday night.

Continued Heavy Rainfall Expected in Guangxi

The heavy rainfall is expected to persist in Guangxi for the next several days. Although Haikui has weakened from a typhoon to a tropical storm since making landfall in Fujian province on September 5, its residual circulation has continued to cause havoc in southern China.

Historic Flooding in Shenzhen and Hong Kong

Shenzhen, a populous city, experienced the heaviest rain since records began in 1952, while neighboring Hong Kong was battered by the worst storm in 140 years. The intensity and paths of typhoons affecting China have become more complex and intense, posing an increasing risk of disasters, even in cities with strong flood defense capabilities, such as Shenzhen.

Concerns About Typhoon Impact

Climatologists have raised concerns about the impact of typhoons moving further inland, affecting regions that historically have been less exposed to heavy rainfall and strong winds. These areas often have lower disaster resilience, leading to more severe losses.

The recent disaster in Shenzhen was exacerbated by the slow westward movement of Haikui’s residual circulation, which nearly stagnated in its spatial position. This, coupled with a “train effect” of heavy rainfall, caused the event to exceed its expected intensity. The “train effect” refers to the cumulative impact of multiple convective cloud systems passing over an area in succession, resulting in a significant accumulation of rainfall and a heightened risk of extreme rainfall.

VoM News Desk

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