The death toll from devastating storms in parts rose to 15, with hundreds more injured and tens of thousands evacuated, state media reported, as President Xi Jinping urged “all out” rescue efforts.
Thunderstorms and gale-force winds killed at least 11 people and injured 331 in the central province of Hubei, where “severe convective weather” hit cities, and tornadoes were reported elsewhere late Monday.
In the southern region of Guangxi, heavy rains and severe flooding from Typhoon Maysak killed at least four people, with at least 50,000 evacuated, while eight people were still missing.
Officials in Nanning, Guangxi’s capital, raised the flood control emergency response to the highest level after torrential rain breached dams.
Xi said on Tuesday that rescuers should “go all out” in organising emergency operations.
He also underscored the importance of “treating the injured, resettling affected residents, and carrying out disaster prevention and relief work effectively”. — AFP
