Three people were killed and another one remains missing after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall hit a three-story building in a village in south China's Guangdong Province early Sunday, local authorities reported Monday morning.
The landslide struck the building around 7 a.m. in Pingtougang Village, located in the city of Gaozhou, Maoming, trapping seven people, according to Gaozhou's emergency management bureau, which added that the landslide occurred about 20 meters behind the building.
Six people were rescued, but three of them died later despite emergency treatment. The other three, now under hospital care, are not in critical condition.
Search and rescue efforts, involving over 140 policemen, firefighters, and doctors, are ongoing for the missing person.
In recent days, cities in Guangdong, including Qingyuan, Shaoguan, Heyuan, Yangjiang, Maoming, Zhaoqing, Foshan, and Guangzhou, have experienced frequent and intense downpours, prompting local authorities to urge heightened vigilance against mountain torrents, landslides, and mudslides.
According to the Guangdong Meteorological Service, thunderstorms will remain widespread across most parts of the province from May 19 to 21. Localized severe convective weather, including short-term heavy rainfall, gale-force winds (wind scale 6-8), and intense lightning, is expected.
On May 20, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast for Shaoguan, Qingyuan, Maoming, Zhaoqing and Guangzhou, with isolated torrential rain or downpours. Elsewhere, scattered showers and localized downpours are expected. The weather is set to continue on May 21, particularly in Qingyuan, Zhaoqing, and parts of Guangzhou's Conghua and Huadu districts.
14-day weather forecast for Guangzhou
9-day weather forecast for Shenzhen
The China Meteorological Administration issued multiple weather alerts on May 18, several of which directly pertain to Guangdong. From the evening of May 18 to the evening of May 19, the risk of mountain torrents is elevated in the northwestern parts of the province (yellow alert), and geological hazard risks are also high in central and western Guangdong (yellow and orange alerts).
Meteorological departments have warned that prolonged and heavy rainfall in Shaoguan, Qingyuan, Maoming, Yangjiang, and Zhaoqing from May 19 to 21 may further increase the threat of geological disasters. Residents are advised to stay alert for flash floods in small and medium rivers and potential urban waterlogging caused by intense short-term downpours.
Author | Huang Xinying
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
