Weather tracker: Typhoon Saudel causes mass evacuations in south-east China

Typhoon Saudel recently unleashed days of torrential rain across south-east China, causing extensive damage and mass evacuations in the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong. The meteorological impact was severe, with Putian, a city in Fujian province, recording an astounding 416.5mm of rain within a 24-hour period last week. Surrounding villages experienced even greater precipitation, exceeding 500mm during the same timeframe, indicative of the extreme conditions. This deluge occurred while north-west South Africa was concurrently hit by thunderstorms and the central-southern US faced oppressive heat, showcasing diverse global weather extremes.

In response to the escalating flood risk, local authorities initiated significant safety measures. In Fujian alone, an estimated 600,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable, flood-prone areas, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Jiangxi province also reported 128,000 affected individuals across 53 counties, with emergency evacuations necessitating the relocation of 9,000 residents. The typhoon’s aftermath included widespread reports of flooding, hazardous landslips, and critical damage to regional infrastructure, severely disrupting daily life and local economies.

Numerous incidents underscored the destructive power of Typhoon Saudel. In Wenzhou, Zhejiang, more than 2,500 teachers and students found themselves trapped within a school compound after extreme rainfall triggered flash floods in low-lying districts. A particularly devastating event occurred in Putian, where a river embankment collapsed, resulting in the flattening of 100 homes and necessitating the rescue of at least 1,260 individuals. Tragically, a landslip in a village within Suichuan county, Jiangxi province, claimed the lives of three people, with nine others remaining unaccounted for, highlighting the human cost of the extreme weather event.