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State Media Reports at Least 5 Dead and Dozens Injured in Tornado in China’s Guangdong Province


A tornado in the Chinese city of Guangzhou has claimed the lives of at least five individuals. Reports from Chinese state media indicate that another 33 people sustained injuries.

Occurring around 3 p.m. local time (2 a.m. EST) on Saturday, the tornado struck Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China, as reported by China’s official Xinhua news agency.

Xinhua also noted widespread damage to over 100 buildings. State media released images depicting dark skies during daylight hours, along with photos on social media showing uprooted trees and damaged vehicles.

As the most populous province in China, Guangdong is home to nearly 130 million people and hosts numerous factories serving the country’s export industry.

Tornadoes are not uncommon in China. In a similar event last September, a tornado resulted in the deaths of at least 10 individuals in Suqian, located in Jiangsu province. Furthermore, in 2021, two tornadoes occurred on the same day, leading to the loss of more than a dozen lives.

Recent years have witnessed a rise in reports of severe weather phenomena in China.

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Earlier this week, severe flooding from heavy rains in Guangdong resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals. The actual casualties may be higher, with reports indicating it to be the worst flooding the province has experienced in seven decades.

Last year, the Pearl River Delta encountered the most intense rainfall on record in its flooded cities.

Certain accounts suggest that the escalating human toll of extreme weather events in China, including devastating landslides, severe drought, and flooding, may indicate a critical situation unfolding. China, known as a major environmental disruptor, might be facing the repercussions of decades of poorly planned environmental re-engineering and pollution.
Others link the worsening impact of extreme weather in China to climate change and dam mismanagement. Some invoke traditional Chinese beliefs about divine retribution, defining natural disasters and social upheaval as signs that the ruler has lost the Mandate of Heaven.

In May 2020, amidst the COVID pandemic peak, severe weather conditions struck Beijing before the Chinese regime’s crucial annual political meetings, inducing heavy storms, dark skies, hail, and thunderstorms.

During the same period, provinces like Shandong and Guangdong encountered severe flooding, submerging homes and businesses, thereby prompting widespread school and business closures.
In August 2020, relentless and heavy rain led to fatal landslides in China’s Sichuan province, with an undetermined number of casualties reported.

Reuters contributed to this article.





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