The death toll from powerful storms battering parts of China climbed to 15 on Tuesday, with hundreds more injured and tens of thousands evacuated from affected areas, according to state media. President Xi Jinping has urged "all-out" rescue efforts as the nation grapples with the extreme weather.
These storms add to a pattern of increasingly severe weather events across the region, raising concerns about disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience. The Chinese government is mobilizing resources to provide emergency relief and manage the growing humanitarian needs.
State media confirmed the updated figures, with the injured count in the hundreds and tens of thousands displaced. No further breakdown of casualties or damage estimates has been released, though authorities continue to assess the full scope of the devastation.
The immediate priority remains search and rescue operations, with emergency crews working to reach isolated communities. Long-term recovery will likely require significant investment in infrastructure hardening and early warning systems, though specific plans have not been announced.
Experts warn that climate change may be amplifying the frequency and intensity of such storms, though attribution studies would be needed to confirm a direct link.