At least five individuals lost their lives and 33 sustained injuries due to a tornado that struck Guangzhou, a city with a population of 19 million, in southern China, as reported by Chinese state media. The tornado, categorized as a level three event on the severity scale, caused damage to 141 industrial structures, with no reports of residential buildings collapsing.
Situated around 130 kilometers from Hong Kong, Guangzhou serves as the capital of Guangdong province. The tornado’s impact was recorded by a weather station in Liangtian village, Baiyun district, measuring a maximum wind gust of 20.6 meters per second.
Following days of heavy rainfall across southern China, resulting in fatal floods and posing risks to millions of lives, rescue operations have been underway to evacuate residents stranded by the rising waters. In Guangdong province alone, home to 127 million people, over 110,000 individuals had to be relocated due to widespread flooding.
The Pearl River Delta, central to China’s manufacturing industry and densely populated, has experienced intense rainfall and flooding in recent years, with scientists attributing these weather patterns to the escalating climate crisis. While tornadoes are less common in China compared to the United States, they do occur, with historical data indicating tornado-related fatalities in the country over the past half-century.
The China Meteorological Agency has issued warnings for continued heavy rainfall and strong storms in the region until the end of the month, accentuating the need for ongoing monitoring and precautions. As the situation evolves, updates on this developing story will be provided.
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You can also explore an external article providing additional coverage on the tornado incident in Guangzhou here: Tornado Kills at Least 5, Injures 33 in Chinese Metropolis as Region Battles Deadly Floods – Egypt Independent