Torrential rain hits Hainan

More than 42,000 people had been evacuated from high-risk areas across Hainan province as of Monday morning after days of torrential rain triggered flooding, disrupted transportation and forced over 10 cities and counties to suspend classes.

Wuzhishan, a mountainous city in central Hainan, was among the hardest-hit areas. The city recorded 616.2 millimeters of rain in the 24 hours through Monday morning, the highest 24-hour rainfall recorded in its urban area since meteorological records started being kept in 1958.

More heavy rain was forecast. Central and southern Hainan were expected to see heavy to torrential rain from Monday afternoon through around midday on Tuesday, with exceptionally heavy downpours possible in some areas, according to meteorological authorities.

The persistent rain has disrupted daily life in Wuzhishan. Flash floods damaged gas and water supply pipelines at multiple locations, prompting local utilities to suspend water and gas supplies across the city on Monday morning.

"I see flooding in many parts of the city," a Wuzhishan resident surnamed Lin said. "It's been pouring for days. Many areas have lost water and power. Cars are submerged on the roads, and some have been washed away."

Rescue operations were underway across the city as floodwaters continued to rise.

Fourteen people were trapped in a two-story farmhouse and nearby small homes as water levels rose on Monday morning. Firefighters dispatched rescue teams and used an excavator to move all 14 people to safety in about an hour, the city's fire brigade said.

In Baoting, firefighters rescued four people stranded in a pickup truck and on an electric bicycle after both became stuck in floodwater on Monday.

No casualties had been reported in Wuzhishan as of Monday afternoon.

Wuzhishan raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon control from Level II to Level I, the highest level, at 7:30 am on Monday. The city also ordered the suspension of classes, work, business operations, production and transportation and closed tourist attractions.

The extreme weather was caused by the remnants of a tropical depression over the South China Sea interacting with cold air. Heavy to torrential rain hit most of Hainan, with exceptionally heavy rainfall in some areas.

The Hainan Meteorological Service maintained a Level II rainstorm warning at 9:40 am on Monday. Later, at 4:00 pm, it downgraded the warning to Level III. It forecast 100 to 150 mm of accumulated rainfall in eight cities and counties, including Baoting, Wuzhishan and Ledong, from 10 am on Monday to 8 am on Tuesday, with isolated areas expected to receive more than 250 mm.

Authorities also issued an orange alert for rain-triggered geological disasters in parts of six cities and counties, including Wuzhishan, Qionghai and Wanning, warning of a high risk of landslides and other ground-related hazards. People in high-risk areas were urged to evacuate to shelters as instructed by local authorities.

Parts of Sanya, Wuzhishan, Ledong and Baoting were placed under a yellow alert for flash floods.

The persistent rain also disrupted road traffic. Sections of the S10 and S26 expressways, as well as a tourist road around Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, were closed after hazards were reported, according to the Hainan highway administration.

Contact the writers at chenbowen@chinadaily.com.cn