2008 South China floods

Infobox flood
image location=Flooding, Shenzhen, China.jpg

Shenzhen, China
name=2008 South China floods
duration= May 26 - Present
total damages (USD)=$2.2 billion Associated Press. " [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jadKL0GGEbHMBxJaaU-7y-VowJHAD91BR0680 Associated Press] ." "China: Floods kill 63 this month." Retrieved on 2008-06-17.] Chinapost.com. " [http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national%20news/2008/06/17/161461/Chinese-media.htm Chinapost.com.tw] ." "China floods pummel export heartland." Retrieved on 2008-06-21.]
total fatalities= more than 200 dead or missing
areas affected= Sichuan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Hong KongThe 2008 South China floods began on May 26, 2008. Four rounds of torrential rains with landslides and flooding lasted for 20 days and affected fifteen provinces in Eastern and Southern China. [cite news|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-06-16/202715755518.shtml |title=20 Days of Rainstorms in South China Affected 15 Provinces |publisher = Sina.com | date = 2008-06-16 |accessdate=2008-06-16| language=Chinese]

The first round of floods affected twelve provinces in South China and killed 93 people as of May 30. [cite news|url= http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-05-30/184715652407.shtml |title= Floods Sweeps 12 Province in South China, 93 People Killed, 43 Missing|publisher=Sina.com| date=2008-05-30|accessdate=2008-06-15|language=Chinese] A new round of floods began on June 6 and swept nine provinces in southern China killing 55 people with 7 missing and forcing 1.3 million to evacuate as of June 14. [cite news|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-06-14/214415745609.shtml |title=Floods Sweeps 9 Provinces in South China, 55 People Killed |publisher=Sina.com| date=2008-06-14|accessdate=2008-06-15|language=Chinese] China's National Meteorological Centre has said that heavy rain would continue and that precipitation in the provinces of Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan would be 30 to 70% greater than in the same period last year.

Mainland China

Mainland provinces affected include Anhui, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian and Guangdong.SCMP. " [http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=c4dd6946bf78a110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=China&s=News South China morning post] ." "Blocked airport highway a black mark for city." Retrieved on 2008-06-15.]

May

China Daily reported that torrential rains in the southern provinces killed 64 people in May.Chinadaily. " [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-06/09/content_6746725.htm Chinadaily] ." "Downpours threaten South China." Retrieved on 2008-06-10.] According to State Flood Control and Drought Relief headquarters, floods have claimed 59 lives up to this point of the year.English hanban.edu. " [http://english.hanban.edu.cn/english/China/170283.htm Hanban.edu] ." "South China expects more heavy rain." Retrieved on 2008-06-14.]

June

From May 28 to June 2, some places in Guangdong experienced heavy rainfalls. After 7 days, flood situations were investigated by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) on June 3. [China Meteorological Administration. " [http://www.cma.gov.cn/english/News/t20080605_238451.phtml CMA] ." "Leaders of CMA Pay High Attention on the Flood Situation in Guangdong." Retrieved on 2008-06-14.] The State Flood Control and Drought Relief headquarters and National Meteorological Centre (NMC) both raised emergency levels expecting more torrential rain and thunderstorms. On the weekend of June 7-8, Guangzhou Daily reported it to be the heaviest rain storm in 50 years for Guangdong province.Yahoo. " [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080608/wl_nm/china_weather_dc Yahoo] ." "Worst rainstorms in 50 years hit southeast China." Retrieved on 2008-06-14.] Wuzhou was struck with their worst flooding in 100 years. [Standard HK. " [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=3&art_id=67159&sid=19321761&con_type=1&d_str=20080613&fc=8 Standard HK] ." "Destructive floods." Retrieved on 2008-06-14.] In two days the rainfall in some areas measured more than 400 millimetres (15.7 inches).

On June 14, the Ministry of Water Resources said about 1 million hectares of farmland have been affected with the worst hit provinces being Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei. From May 25 to June 14, up to 18 people have died, including 2.22 million people were affected in 17 cities in Guangdong. The average rainfall of convert|415|mm|in|abbr=on was double the long-term level, with the media reporting it as "Freak rain". [Shanghaidaily. " [http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200806/20080615/article_363291.htm Shanghaidaily] ." "Freak rainfall lashes nation's south." Retrieved on 2008-06-14.]

On June 15, more than 300 places in Shenzhen were submerged underwater. Floods have forced more than 1.66 million people to evacuate, caused 67,000 houses to collapse, and killed 63 people. [AFP. " [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gd0ac134jwO38OJ0QNYTPCf07yyA Agence France-Presse] ." "South China ravaged by floods, densely populated north in danger." Retrieved on 2008-06-17.] Three days later officials in Guangdong warned of a "black june" as high tides, rain and rivers threatened levees. Across the region, 169 were reported killed in the floods.

On June 21, the main precipitation areas include the Huaihe river valleys, Guizhou, Sichuan and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Heavy rain follow in Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, Qinghai, and Inner Mongolia. [Xinhuanet. " [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/21/content_8413697.htm Xinhuanet] ." "Heavy rainfall continues in South China." Retrieved on 2008-06-21.] At the end of the month, 252 people were killed in the rainstorms and flooding. [Xinhua. " [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/06/content_8496761.htm Xinhuanet] ." "Heavy rainstorms ravage China, leaving at least 12 dead and 3 mln affected." Retrieved on 2008-07-09.]

Hong Kong

June

On June 7 more than convert|400|mm|in|abbr=on of rain fell on Lantau Island and more than convert|300|mm|in|abbr=on fell on Hong Kong island.SCMP. " [http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=a8e8ec62c046a110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong+Kong&s=News South China morning post] ." "Record Downpour Kills Two and Brings Chaos to Swathe of City." Retrieved on 2008-06-14.] By noon, almost 40 landslides and 156 floods were reported.SCMP. " [http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=651148f3f836a110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Insight&s=Opinion South China morning post] ." "Blocked Airport Highway a Black Mark for City." Retrieved on 2008-06-14.] In Tsim Sha Tsui the 124-year record of rainfall per hour was smashed, with 145.5 mm (5.73 inches) of rainfall being recorded. The North Lantau Highway was blocked, for the first time since 1997, by a landslide. Land traffic to the village of Tai O was cut off, forcing the government to increase the frequency of ferries to and from the village. Newspaper vendors in the streets reported that the water came very fast, flooding the area within five minutes to thigh-deep level. One of the landslides killed two people in Tuen Mun. The Hong Kong Observatory thus changed the "amber rainstorm" warning to a "black rainstorm" warning.

References

External links

* [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/15/content_8371986.htm China View]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7455239.stm BBC News]
* [http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-34068820080615 Reuters]
* [http://news.sina.com.cn/z/nfdszyby08/index.shtml 2008 South China floods] , Sina.com zh