China sees highest number of significant floods since records began
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So far this year officials warnings have been issued for 25 floods, and China is only halfway through its peak flood season
Helen Davidson in Taipei Fri 2 Aug 2024 16.01 AEST Last modified on Fri 2 Aug 2024 16.03 AEST
This aerial photo taken on 28 July shows a flood-affected village following heavy rains caused by typhoon Gaemi in Zixing, in central China's Hunan province. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
Halfway through the peak flood season, China has already experienced the highest number of significant floods since record keeping began in 1998, and the hottest July since 1961, authorities said on Friday.
This year so far it has recorded 25 “numbered” events, which the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources defined as having water levels that prompt an official warning or are measured at a magnitude of a “once in two to five years” event.
At a press conference this week, authorities said 3,683 river flood warnings and 81 mountain flood disaster warnings had been issued, state media reported. Almost 5,000 reservoirs had been put into operation diverting 99bn litres of floodwaterto prevent the relocation of more than 6.5 million people.
On Thursday, state media said Gaemi had killed at least 30 people in Hunan, with about 35 others still missing.
The national meteorological administration said the climate had “deviated from the norm” in China this year, driving the natural disasters. The national rainfall average was 13.3% higher than average, with 30 weather stations recording record highs. Four major rivers received above average rain. The Huaihe river and the Liaohe river basins received double the average.
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The national weather office also said last month was the hottest July since observations began in 1961, and “the hottest single month in the history of observation”. The average July air temperature was 23.21 degrees Celsius, exceeding the previous record set in 2017 of 23.17C, and every province in China reported a mean temperature in July higher than average for previous years.
High temperatures and rainfall in China were expected to continue in the next 10 days, with a red alert for extreme heat, up to 40C, issued for Shanghai on Friday. Hangzhou could potentially reach 43C, authorities said. The typhoon season also continues through August.