Storms, strong winds kill 8 in central China

Thunderstorms and strong winds have killed at least eight people in central China, state media said Tuesday, as heavy rains and flooding left two more dead in country’s southern region.

Natural disasters are common across China, particularly in the summer, when some regions experience intense rainfall while others bake in scorching heat.

Multiple areas in the eastern part of Hubei province in central China experienced “severe convective weather” on Monday, state broadcaster CCTV said.

“Thunderstorms and strong winds swept” through cities including Huangshi and Huanggang, killing eight people that evening, CCTV added.

Tornadoes were reported in some areas and one person is missing.

“The extent of the damage is currently being verified and rescue operations are fully underway,” CCTV said.

Heavy rains and severe flooding from Typhoon Maysak killed at least two people in the southern region of Guangxi, and prompted authorities to evacuate at least 48,000 people as of Monday evening.

Officials in Nanning, Guangxi’s capital, also raised the city’s flood control emergency response to the highest level after torrential rain breached dams.

Scientists warn the intensity and frequency of global extreme weather events will increase as the planet continues to heat up because of fossil fuel emissions.

China is the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, but it is also a global renewable energy powerhouse that aims to make its massive economy carbon-neutral by 2060.