2023-09-06 06:16:01
BEIJING (AP) — At least two people have been killed and thousands forced from their homes by flooding from Tropical Storm Haikui in Fujian province on China’s southeast coast, local authorities reported Wednesday.
Schools closed, flights were suspended and more than 30,000 people were transferred to safe places.
Two firefighters were killed and a police officer is missing following floodwaters swept away a fire truck during a rescue mission, according to state media.
Haikui swept across the island of Taiwan as a hurricane earlier in the week, injuring dozens of people and leaving thousands without power. It weakened to a tropical storm as it made landfall in Fujian, but caused record rainfall.
The most affected area is between the coast and the inland mountains, an area especially prone to flooding, which for decades has led many to migrate to other parts of the country or abroad.
Authorities closed schools, grounded flights, paralyzed train and bus services and mobilized dozens of emergency rescue vehicles. It is estimated that the economic losses exceed 75 million dollars, according to the Chinese state press.
More than 30 centimeters (1 foot) of rain fell in some parts of Fujian, a record for the region. In the central Fuzhou province, 50,000 people were affected and more than 36,000 were taken to shelters, state media said.
In recent months, China has experienced some of the most severe rainfall and flooding events in recent years in several regions, claiming dozens of lives.
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