29 people have already died as a result of floods in the Hebei province of northern China, according to official media on Friday, after the area was battered by record-breaking rainfall recently.
“As of August 10, 29 people have died due to disasters in Hebei Province, of which six were previously missing. There are still 16 missing,” state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing authorities.
Authorities reported earlier this week that at least 33 people, including two rescuers, perished in Beijing as a result of a strong thunderstorm and flooding that struck at the end of last month.
Additionally, after last week’s torrential rain, over a dozen people died in the northeastern Jilin province.
When AFP visited Hebei, a province that borders the capital, on Wednesday, the streets there were still covered in muck.
Locals were rushing to clean up damaged homes and recover soggy possessions.
Extreme weather events and protracted heatwaves have affected millions of people recently, and scientists believe that climate change is making these disasters worse.
