A devastating landslide caused by flash flooding in central China’s Hunan province has resulted in the deaths of 12 people and left several others injured. The disaster struck on Sunday, destroying a guesthouse and causing significant damage to the surrounding area.
According to state media reports, the landslide occurred after heavy rains led to flash flooding on a mountain, which subsequently triggered the landslide. The official broadcaster CCTV confirmed that 18 people were initially buried under the debris. By Sunday evening, 12 bodies had been recovered, along with six injured survivors. Rescue operations are ongoing, with one person still reported missing.
More than 240 emergency personnel were deployed to the scene to assist in the search and rescue efforts. A video released by the state-run Beijing Youth Daily showed extensive mudslides and debris cutting through the green hillside, with an uprooted tree and damaged buildings evident in the footage. An aerial video provided by Xinhua depicted the severely damaged buildings both at the top and the base of the hill.
This tragic event is part of a broader pattern of extreme weather incidents affecting China. The country has experienced a series of severe weather events this summer, including flash floods in the north and southwest that have claimed at least 20 lives earlier this month. Additionally, a highway collapse in southern China in May, following days of heavy rain, resulted in 48 fatalities.
The increase in such extreme weather events has been linked to climate change, which is making severe weather conditions more frequent and intense. As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China faces significant challenges in addressing these issues. In response, the country has pledged to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. China is also leading global efforts in renewable energy, being the largest producer of solar and wind power, and is building nearly twice as much renewable capacity as the rest of the world combined.
Sources By Agencies
