DW
More than 53,000 people have been evacuated, and 11 people are missing, amid ongoing heavy rainfall in southern China, state media reported Monday.
Days of torrential rainfall have swelled rivers and waterways in the Pearl River Delta, with authorities warning heavy flooding is expected.
State broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday that floods as high as 5.8 meters (19 feet) above the warning limit would strike in Pearl River tributaries on Monday morning.
“A total of 11 people are missing after continuous heavy rainfall hit many parts of (Guangdong) in recent days,” state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the local emergency management department.
Tens of thousands evacuated
Xinhau reported that across the province, 53,741 people had been relocated, with 12,256 of that number resettled urgently, according to provincial authorities.
The cities of Shaoguan, Qingyuan, Zhaoqing and Jiangmen to the west and north of the provincial capital, Guangzhou, have been hardest hit.
Guangdong is China’s populous manufacturing hub and is home to more than 127 million people.
Rescuers on motor boats in the southern province evacuated trapped residents, while some elderly people were carried by piggyback from their homes.
Helicopters were deployed to rescue villagers caught in rural landslides.
Heavy rain expected through Monday
Torrential rain is expected to continue through Monday, with weather authorities predicting thunderstorms and strong winds in coastal areas.
