Xi Jinping is mobilizing ahead of floods that have evacuated 10,000 people

More than 130,000 people Nineteen counties and districts were hit by heavy rains and landslides in the Chinese city of Chongqing, with at least 15 dead and four missing, according to a preliminary death toll released by local authorities on Wednesday.

The storm damaged more than 7,500 hectares of crops, and Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered immediate dispatch of help. He also called for greater efforts to protect lives and property from severe flooding, as scientists in the country warned that July could bring other natural disasters due to Extreme weather.

Heavy rains also forced the authorities to evacuate around 10,000 people in recent days from their homes in the central province of Hunan, where dozens of buildings collapsed and initial damage estimates reached almost 600 million yuan (76 million euros).

China regularly faces severe flooding, and as global warming brings more frequent extreme weather, it is likely problems escalate. China’s rapid urbanization, coupled with the global climate crisis, means that even large cities are at risk of flooding due to the sudden rise in water. China’s meteorological authorities warned that the country could expect “multiple natural disasters in July, including floods, typhoons and high temperatures”.