Disaster authorities report that 21 people have lost their lives and 4 are still missing after severe flooding in areas of Hubei Province in Central China.

Hubei’s Emergency Management Department said that between 11 and 12 August a total of 16 meteorological monitoring stations in Yicheng, Xiangcheng, Nanzhang, Zaoyang and Suixian of Suizhou detected extremely heavy rain.

Rain central China 11 to 12 August 2021. Image: National Meteorological Center

The department said severe flooding has affected a total of 7 cities (prefectures) and 22 counties (cities, districts) in Shiyan City, Xiangyang City, Jingmen City, Xiaogan City, Huanggang City, Suizhou City and Enshi. As of 13 August a total of 384,800 people were affected and 11,000 people were transferred to temporary accommodation after over 3,600 homes were damaged.

The 21 fatalities were recorded in the township of Liulin, part of the city of Suizhou in the north of the province where flood waters were almost 2.5 metres deep. More than 500 people were rescued by emergency services. The Provincial Emergency Management Department urgently distributed relief supplies including tents and folding beds to flood victims in Suizhou City.

The National Meteorological Center said a storm was “stationed” in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and warned of further heavy rainfall in East and Central China until 14 August as a result.