The Chinese Government Pledges 100 Million Yuan
for Infrastructure Restoration in Guizhou
Buildings in Longjiang County, Guizhou City, Southwest China, were submerged due to heavy rain that began the previous day. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
The largest flood in 30 years struck Guizhou Province in southwestern China, forcing tens of thousands of residents to urgently evacuate.
On June 25, Chinese state-run Global Times reported that two days of heavy rain had flooded low-lying areas throughout Longjiang County in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou. It is reported that approximately 80,900 residents were forced to evacuate urgently due to the heavy rainfall.
In particular, the home stadium of Longjiang County, which hosts the popular Chinese football tournament "Cunchao," was submerged under three meters of water, making it impossible to hold matches. In addition, the largest shopping mall in Longjiang was flooded, and some highway bridges collapsed, among other widespread damages.
Workers are cleaning up by scooping out mud washed away by floodwaters in southwestern China, where heavy rain caused significant damage. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
China Central Television (CCTV) reported scenes of rescue teams evacuating residents by boat and children waiting for rescuers at kindergartens. Online, videos are spreading that show muddy water flooding the region's largest shopping mall. The footage also captures vehicles parked on the road being swept away by rainwater.
The Chinese government has decided to provide 100 million yuan (approximately 19 billion won) in support to restore infrastructure in Guizhou. However, there are concerns that the damage could worsen, as Guizhou's meteorological authorities have forecast additional heavy rain from the night of June 26 through June 27. While summer floods are common in China, some scientists warn that both the amount and frequency of rainfall are increasing due to the effects of climate change.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
