Severe Storms in China: Death Toll Rises After Landslide and Dam Burst

Landslide in Gansu Claims 21 Lives

Weather authorities attribute the disasters to the tropical storm, which brought extreme rainfall across several regions. The situation in the affected areas remains tense according to Xinhua, with rescue teams deployed. Damage to infrastructure and residential buildings is currently being assessed.

Hundreds of Snakes Escape from Farm

Alongside the flooding, another phenomenon is causing alarm: Up to 900 snakes escaped from a farm in Dengxu after the floods and were washed into a village. As "Red Star News" reported, citing the village committee, some of the snakes that escaped on Monday are venomous. Residents were urged not to touch the animals and to report incidents to the authorities.

At the same time, parts of East Asia are bracing for the approaching super typhoon "Bavi," which according to the Chinese weather agency is currently moving across the Western Pacific toward Taiwan and China. By that time, however, "Bavi" is expected to have weakened and no longer fall into the super typhoon category, the agency forecast on Wednesday.

Outlook: Super Typhoon "Bavi" Approaching

Gansu province is one of China's poorer and mountainous regions, where landslides following heavy rainfall are not uncommon. In recent years, comparable events have repeatedly claimed lives and injured people, as the slopes are considered unstable.

Hengzhou lies inland in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The metropolis of Nanning, in whose catchment area the city lies, is the administrative center of the region. Images and videos on social media showed flooded streets and houses, although the videos were partly censored by Chinese platforms.

Reporting on the storms has been extensive in state media, while the exact total number of victims remains unclear so far. Authorities have announced extensive aid measures and compensation for affected families. The evacuation of further residents along the broken dam is also underway.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of an already tense storm season in China. Just in the preceding months, flooding in the south of the country had claimed several lives. Meteorologists see a connection with climate change, which is making extreme weather events more frequent in the region.

Authorities are now watching the progression of typhoon "Bavi" with concern. Should it make landfall again, the situation in the already affected provinces could worsen further. The weather agency urged the public to take warnings seriously and prepare for further evacuations.