Severe thunderstorms continue to sweep China: 18 people dead and four missing

Strong thunderstorms which swept through several provinces, in southern China, in the past week, have continued to battle the area. 18 people have died due to house collapses, landslides or lightning, and four more are currently missing.

More than 203.2 mm (8 inches) of rain has fell in the last 48 hours (by late June 20). Thousands of homes have been overthrown by flood waters, and tens of thousands of residents had to move out of their homes, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

10 people died and 66 4000 people were affected in the Hubei province alone, where the strongest storms were reported. 527000 people were affected in the Hunan province, 5 people died in the municipality of Chongqing, 2 in the Guizhou province and one person died in the Anhui province.

The levels of water in about 400 reservoirs in the Hubei province exceeded the warning level, roads, houses, power and water local facilities were also damaged. The provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters reported an economic loss of 680 million Yuan ($111 million).

Video credit: RT

Yingshan County was hit hardest. On Wednesday morning, June 17 a four-story residential building was swept away, fortunately the building owner managed to evacuate his family before the collapse.

Featured image: 72-hr accumulation as observed by GPM. Image credit: Google Earth/GPM(NASA/JAXA)