By Benson Daniel
Typhoon Saudel has caused widespread flooding and forced the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people across south-east China after days of torrential rain overwhelmed communities in several provinces.
Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Guangdong have been among the worst affected areas, with authorities moving residents from flood prone communities as rivers rose, landslides threatened mountainous areas and infrastructure was damaged. Nearly 600,000 people were evacuated in Fujian alone, while more than 128,000 residents were affected across 53 counties in Jiangxi.
The scale of the rainfall has been exceptional. Putian in Fujian recorded 416.5mm of rain in 24 hours, while some surrounding areas received more than 500mm during the same period. The downpours caused extensive flooding in urban and rural areas, leaving roads submerged and disrupting transport.
In Putian, a river embankment collapsed after the heavy rain, damaging more than 100 homes and prompting emergency crews to rescue more than 1,260 people. Local authorities established emergency shelters as rescue teams moved through flooded communities.
Jiangxi province has also suffered serious damage. In Suichuan county, a landslide triggered by the persistent rain killed three people and left nine others missing, while homes were damaged and residents were moved away from areas considered at risk.
The storm has also disrupted schools, businesses and transport. Authorities suspended classes and some commercial activities in affected parts of Fujian, while hundreds of transport services were halted. Tourist attractions were also temporarily closed as officials warned of flash floods, landslides and other secondary disasters.
Saudel made its third landfall in China on September 3 in Fujian province after previously making two landfalls along the Zhejiang coast on August 28. At the time of its Fujian landfall, the storm had maximum sustained winds of about 23 metres per second near its centre.
Although Saudel has since weakened, its remnants have continued to produce heavy rainfall, keeping authorities on alert for flooding and landslides. Rivers in several affected areas have risen above warning levels, while saturated ground has increased the danger of further slope failures.
Emergency workers have been deployed to evacuate residents, clear blocked roads and assist people trapped by rising floodwaters. Images from affected areas have shown rescue teams using boats and other equipment to reach communities surrounded by water.
The storm is the seventh typhoon to affect China this year and has added to a difficult period of extreme weather across parts of the country.
Officials have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow evacuation orders as further rainfall remains possible. With large areas already saturated, even additional moderate rainfall could create new flooding and landslide risks.
The latest disaster has once again highlighted the vulnerability of densely populated parts of China’s eastern and southern coastline to increasingly disruptive tropical storms, particularly when intense rainfall combines with already swollen rivers and saturated ground.
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