At least 10 people have died and 33 others remain missing following flash floods triggered by days of heavy rainfall in northwest China’s Gansu province, state media reported on Friday.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, the disaster began on August 7 after continuous downpours caused severe flooding. As of 3:30 p.m. local time (0730 GMT) on August 8, the death toll had risen to 10, with search efforts ongoing for the missing persons.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered “utmost effort” to rescue the missing and called on authorities to take stronger preventive measures against natural disasters. Citing the “frequent occurrence of extreme weather,” Xi urged all regions to “resolutely overcome complacency” and intensify efforts to identify and mitigate risks.
Videos released by China’s fire department on Weibo showed rescuers navigating through fast-moving grey floodwaters in a village, while images from Gansu’s provincial government depicted roads blanketed with silt and strewn with large rocks.
Natural disasters are common in China during the summer, with some areas experiencing torrential rain while others endure extreme heat. Just last month, heavy rains in northern Beijing killed 44 people, with rural suburbs bearing the brunt of the destruction.
China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, faces increasing threats from climate change, which scientists say is making extreme weather events more frequent and severe. However, the country has also positioned itself as a global leader in renewable energy, with a pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
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