5 dead, 9 missing due to heavy rain from Typhoon Southel in southern China

At least five people died and nine went missing as heavy rain brought by Typhoon Southel No. 18 in southern China caused landslides and other damage.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television (CCTV) on the 6th, a landslide occurred in a village in Suichuan County, Jiangxi Province, around 4 a.m. the previous day, damaging 12 houses.

Three people died in the landslide and nine others are missing, and rescue authorities are conducting a search operation.

Immediately after the landslide, roads were cut off and water, electricity, and communications were cut off in the village area, but now most of the access roads have been restored and an emergency communication network has been established, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Authorities announced that about 5,300 local residents were evacuated to safe areas to prepare for further damage.

Casualties also occurred in adjacent areas. CCTV reported that two people died due to heavy rain caused by a typhoon in Hunan Province, south-central China.

Although the specific cause of death was not disclosed, CCTV explained that various disasters, including landslides, occurred locally due to heavy rain.

Since last week, Southel has landed in China three times along an unusual route and has rained on Jiangxi Province for about seven days.

Chinese media reported that Southel was the typhoon that brought the strongest rain and wind to Jiangxi Province this year, and that about 161,500 people have been displaced in Jiangxi Province alone to date.