Deadly Landslide, Floods as Tropical Storm Slams South China

Tropical storm Ewiniar has hit Guangdong, triggering several weather alerts this morning. According to Guangdong Meteorological Service Center, the center of the storm passed from the western city of Yunfu, where four died from a rain-induced landslide, to Zhaoqing. Ewiniar is expected to continue moving north with a speed of 10 kilometers per hour today.

Here’s how the storm has affected residents in cities across the province today.

Yunfu

According to CCTV, as of 1.30pm today five have died due to a landslide that buried a home in Taiping county, Yunfu. Rescue efforts are underway, according to the latest update.

Zhaoqing

According to local news, the city is facing emergency situations including flooded roads, overflowing rivers and collapsed streets. All schools are closed, though, as the video above shows, the gaokao is still being held, with firefighting trucks and boats dispatched to help examinees reach testing sites.

Foshan

According to Nanhai News, Foshan has had active typhoon and rainstorm alerts since 5.30am this morning. All schools are closed, although gaokao testing is proceeding as usual. The typhoon is expected to bring more rainfall tomorrow, along with thunder and lightning. 

Shenzhen

This morning, the Shenzhen Meteorological Bureau upgraded multiple weather alerts. A white typhoon alert and yellow lightning alert are active for the whole city. Futian, Luohu, Yantian, Longgang and Longhua districts have also been upgraded to an orange rainstorm alert, while others were still yellow as of this morning. 

While the typhoon alert is active, residents are suggested to keep a close eye on the latest weather reports and take proper precautions, such as ceasing outdoor activities and avoiding low-lying, flood-prone areas.

The city will be affected by severe rainstorms accompanied by strong winds today, according to a Weibo post by the local weather bureau.

READ MORE: 4 Killed in Canopy Collapse Caused by Storm in Shenzhen

Guangzhou

Guangzhou's Weather Bureau announced that districts including Zengcheng and Conghua have lowered their typhoon alerts to white, while remaining districts are still on blue alert.

A red rainstorm alert was issued this afternoon for Yuexiu, Haizhu, Liwan, Tianhe, Baiyun, and Huadu districts, while Huangpu, Conghua and Zengcheng remain at orange. Panyu, with a yellow rainstorm alert, has the mildest warning.

As of publication time, local schools are for the most part open. Guangzhou Nanfang International School, ISA International School and Utahloy International School of Guangzhou, however, have announced that they will close early today. 

Guangzhou Railway has also announced that due to the rain, trains heading north on the following routes will not leave the Guangzhou station after 6pm today: Beijing-Guangzhou, Guangzhou-Foshan-Zhaoqing and Guangzhou-Shenzhen. Instead, the routes will begin at Guangzhou East.

[Images via Guangzhou Weather Bureau, Nanhai News, Zhaoqing Jiefang, iTouchTV (1, 2), Shenzhen Meteorological Bureau, Shenzhen Quanjiechu]