China gives affected areas over $429 million in emergency relief amid deadly floods

BEIJING – China has provided more than 2.3 billion yuan (S$429.6 million) in funds to help with rescue efforts, emergency supplies and planning as deadly floods and landslides caused by almost two weeks of torrential rain ravage several parts of the country.

Various government departments have allocated 2.344 billion yuan, according to Reuters calculations, to various cities and provinces over the past several days to help with rescue efforts, planning and relocating those affected.

On June 27, China’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Emergency Management issued 496 million yuan – the latest tranche in natural disaster relief funds – for the provinces of Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou and Guangdong, as well as the Guangxi region, CCTV news said.

Last week, President Xi Jinping urged the authorities to go all out in protecting lives as floods and natural disasters increased.

Dozens of people have

died from floods

or rain-induced landslides during the annual flooding season, with southern China getting hit particularly hard in 2024.

The persistent torrential rain has forced the authorities across municipalities to ramp up emergency plans as swollen rivers threaten the lives of millions.

Heavy rain in cities and areas near the Yangtze River basin have caused surrounding waterways to reach dangerous levels.

On June 27, officials in Jiangxi warned that the water levels of some rivers and lakes in the northern part of the province had risen rapidly due to heavy rain and could flood, while moist soil in mountainous areas is saturated, which could cause landslides, according to Xinhua news.

In Changsha, the capital of Hunan, the Xiang and Laodao rivers are expected to hit peak dangerous levels on the morning of June 27, state media reported.

On June 24, heavy rain in the southern Chinese city, turned roads into rivers and submerged pedestrian underpasses and subway tunnels. REUTERS