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The 2008 South China floods began on 26 May 2008. Four rounds of torrential rains with landslides and flooding lasted for 20 days and affected fifteen provinces in Eastern and Southern China.[3]
The first round of floods affected twelve provinces in South China and killed 93 people as of 30 May.[4] A new round of floods began on 6 June and swept nine provinces in southern China killing 55 people with 7 missing and forcing 1.3 million to evacuate as of 14 June.[5] China's National Meteorological Centre has said that heavy rain would continue and that precipitation in the provinces of Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan would be 30 to 70% greater than in the same period last year.
On 14 June, the Ministry of Water Resources said close to 1 million hectares of farmland have been affected with the worst hit provinces being Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei.[8] From 25 May to 14 June, up to 18 people have died, including 2.22 million people were affected in 17 cities in Guangdong. The average rainfall of 415 mm (16.3 in) was double the long-term level, with the media reporting it as "Freak rain".[12]
On 15 June, more than 300 places in Shenzhen were submerged underwater.[6] Floods have forced more than 1.66 million people to evacuate, caused 67,000 houses to collapse, and killed 63 people.[1][13] Three days later officials in Guangdong warned of a "black June" as high tides, rain and rivers threatened levees. Across the region, 169 were reported killed in the floods.[2]
On 7 June, more than 400 mm (16 in) of rain fell on Lantau Island and more than 300 mm (12 in) fell on Hong Kong Island.[16] By noon, almost 40 landslides and 156 floods were reported.[17] In Tsim Sha Tsui, the 124-year record of rainfall per hour was smashed, with 145.5 mm (5.73 inches) of rainfall being recorded. The North Lantau Highway was blocked, for the first and so far the only time since its opening in 1997, by a landslide.[16] Land traffic to the villages of Tai O was cut off, forcing the government to increase the frequency of ferries to and from the villages. Newspaper vendors in the streets reported that the water came very fast, flooding the area within five minutes to thigh-deep level (over-the-knee). One of the landslides killed two people in Tuen Mun. The Hong Kong Observatory thus changed the "amber rainstorm" warning to a "black rainstorm" warning.[16]
^ abcChinadaily. "Chinadaily." Downpours threaten South China. Retrieved on 10 June 2008.
^ abEnglish hanban.edu. "Hanban.eduArchived 24 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine." South China expects more heavy rain. Retrieved on 14 June 2008.
^China Meteorological Administration. "CMAArchived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine." Leaders of CMA Pay High Attention on the Flood Situation in Guangdong. Retrieved on 14 June 2008.
^ abYahoo. "Yahoo." Worst rainstorms in 50 years hit southeast China. Retrieved on 14 June 2008.