China braces for twin tropical cyclones after deadly flash floods

BEIJING: After deadly flash floods struck the nation’s interior over the weekend, two tropical cyclones are expected to bring gales and heavy rain to China’s eastern seaboard this week. The first one is anticipated to make landfall on Sunday ( Jul 21 ).

According to federal forecasters, Prapiroon, which is named after a Thai rain lord, is expected to make landfall in Hainan, the country’s southern island province, on Sunday night as a powerful tropical storm, marking the initial tropical cyclone to strike China this year.

As of 7am local time, Prapiroon’s center was located about 275 kilometers east of the Hainan area of Wanning. It was established in the South China Sea. &nbsp,

The National Meteorological Centre forecast heavy floods in Hainan and along the coast of Guangdong, China’s most populous state, at a maximum speed of 30 meters per second near its center, according to the National Meteorological Centre.

After this week, Gaemi, which was about 530km north of Spanish money Manila on Sunday night, is expected to tip past the northern edge of Taiwan, then make land in China as a tornado, packing wind speeds of up to 50 feet per minute, according to Chinese forecasters.

The Central Weather Administration of Taiwan predicted heavy rains for Gaemi to remain closest to the area on Wednesday and Thursday.

In a storm period that started earlier than usual this season, intense rainfall has fallen to China’s southern, central, and eastern regions. Southern China experienced record rainfall from April to June, while in the northeast, dry conditions ruined areas and endangered plants.

In the northern county of Shaanxi, a highway bridge collapsed on Friday amid heavy rain, killing at least 12, with 31 individuals and 18 cars also missing.

By 8pm local time on Saturday, rescuers in Sichuan province in the southwest had recovered eight bodies and pulled four people to safety after more than 30 people had vanished due to flash floods.