Hubei: Two tornadoes struck central China's Hubei province, killing at least 11 people and leaving one missing, amid tornadoes that overturned cars and shattered roofs across the area.
According to Thai News Agency, citing emergency management agencies, strong winds battered the cities of Huangshi, Huanggang, Ezhou, and Xianning for more than four hours. Experts from the meteorological bureau stated that tornadoes are a very rare phenomenon in Hubei Province, a major industrial, automotive, and technological hub. The last time one occurred was in May 2021.
The China National Meteorological Center has warned northeastern Hubei province, as well as other provinces such as Guangdong, Hainan, Jilin, Shandong, and Liaoning, to prepare for heavy to very heavy rainfall. The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, recently hit by Typhoon Maysak which killed at least six people and left 11 missing, could face accumulated rainfall of up to 260 millimeters, increasing the risk of landslides.
Regarding the landslide in Tanchang County, Gansu Province, western China, the latest update after the end of the search and rescue operation confirms at least 21 deaths out of 33 people still trapped. Most of the victims are local residents working as temporary laborers on a state-run forestry farm.
This widespread natural disaster has prompted President Xi Jinping to issue a statement urging all officials to dedicate their utmost efforts to urgently assist all those affected by the floods and landslides.
Meanwhile, China is also preparing to cope with Super Typhoon Bawhi, which is moving through the Pacific Ocean towards Taiwan and is expected to make landfall on China's east coast this weekend. The storm is expected to begin affecting Taiwan from Friday, with heavy rain and gusty winds anticipated, culminating in strongest winds that evening and continuing through Saturday.
Taiwan's Cabinet Secretary stated that Typhoon Bawhi could bring accumulated rainfall exceeding 1 meter in some areas of the island, and ordered nearly 29,000 military personnel to be prepared for relief operations. Although the typhoon is expected to weaken slightly as it approaches the northern part of the island, the meteorological bureau warned that its influence will still be comparable to a moderate to severe typhoon.