The remnants of Typhoon Gaemi have left a trail of destruction in central China's Hunan Province, with the city of Zixing bearing the brunt of the catastrophe. As of Thursday noon, local authorities confirmed that 30 people have died and 35 others remain missing in the wake of typhoon-induced intense rains that lashed the region.
The state broadcaster CCTV reported that the extreme weather, fueled by what is being described as the most powerful tropical cyclone to hit China this year, has affected nearly 90,000 people. The People's Daily earlier this week detailed the extent of the damage, noting that approximately 1,400 homes have been damaged and about 1,300 roads have been torn up.
Zixing City has experienced unprecedented rainfall since last Friday, with one location recording a staggering 24-hour rainfall exceeding 645 mm (25.3 inches). This record-breaking deluge has triggered severe flooding and landslides, causing widespread destruction and hampering rescue efforts.
In response to the crisis, Chinese authorities have launched massive search and rescue operations. The scale of the disaster has prompted a coordinated effort from various emergency services, with teams working around the clock to locate missing persons and provide aid to affected communities.