A man struggles to hold on to his umbrella as strong winds turn it inside out amid heavy rain. (Photo: IANS)
Disaster prevention authorities evacuated 21,784 people as a precaution after heavy downpours hit several areas, including Chengdu and Zigong. Three people died at the house, while two others died in hospital, where 17 injured people were receiving treatment. It was unclear whether children or young people were among those included in the casualty figures, news agency Reuters reported.
CCTV said two incidents caused by torrential rain since Tuesday had cut road access in mountainous Garze and Aba. Rescue workers later recovered all five dead, according to CCTV. Ten people died in two disasters in southwest China amid torrential rain. Five people died after accumulated rainwater caused a roof and wall to collapse in Sichuan province. Five others died in a landslide at a construction site in Guangxi region. Sichuan authorities also issued a heavy-rain alert this week and warned of disaster risks.
The Sichuan collapse occurred on Tuesday at a home in Changning county, where people had gathered for a dinner party to celebrate children’s college entrance results. China Central Television (CCTV), China’s state broadcaster, reported the deaths on Wednesday. In Guangxi, a landslide buried five people at a construction site on Monday.
Heavy rain has affected Guangxi since summer began, as it has many other parts of southwest China. Authorities are investigating what caused Monday’s landslide in Guangxi. Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Officials had earlier identified loose sand and gravel in the high mountain canyon area as a potential landslide risk.