(Yicai) Aug. 6 -- Torrential rain has battered Guangdong for the last three days, causing flooding and extensive damage in China’s key southern economic province, with the rainfall in some parts far outstripping annual precipitation in the country’s northern regions.

Twenty-eight townships in Guangdong recorded “extremely heavy rain” and 414 “heavy rain” in the 24 hours to 8 p.m. yesterday, according to official monitoring data. The worst-hit areas included the cities of Huizhou, Shenzhen, Shanwei, and Guangzhou, the provincial capital.

The tech hub of Shenzhen issued its first citywide red alert for a rainstorm since 2018, requiring schools and offices to close and public transport to cease operations. Huizhou also issued a red alert.

People were advised to remain indoors, but many homes have been flooded, Yicai was told by someone who works on rooftop solar power stations in Dongguan. He also said residents in the town of Chashan had rushed to put sandbags in place as the water level of the nearby river had surged.

Video clips circulating online yesterday showed cars afloat in the town of Zhangmutou, with water levels up to people’s knees in local markets. There has also been an outbreak of chikungunya, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water.

Huizhou activated the first level flood control emergency response at 8 p.m. yesterday, which was lowered to the second level at 8 a.m. today. Many districts in Guangzhou upgraded their alerts for rainstorms to orange, and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has had to cancel 360 flights.   

Electricity supply was also seriously disrupted. China Southern Power Grid said 347,000 households in Guangdong had suffered power cuts due to rainstorms, but power had been restored in 70 percent of the homes by 7 p.m. yesterday. 

The rainfall is expected to ease in the coming days, as the weather front moves away, according to the local meteorological authorities. 

Editor: Tom Litting