Deadly floods leave trail of destruction in China
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BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Extreme weather sweeps across Asia
While torrential rains lash China, Hong Kong and parts of India, sweltering heat has enveloped Japan and South Korea as extreme weather claims hundreds of lives in the change has made weather extremities more intense, frequent and unpredictable, scientists pattern is especially pronounced in Asia, which according to the World Meteorological Organization is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average. The region has lost $2 trillion (£1.5 trillion) to extreme weather - from floods to heatwaves and droughts - over the past three decades, according to the annual Climate Risk Index survey. Record heat Japan marked its hottest day on record on Tuesday, with 41.8C (107F) registered in Isesaki city, Gunma prefecture. The country had also experienced its hottest-ever June and July this year. Fifty-six people are believed to have died from heatstroke between mid-June and the end of July, Tokyo's medical examiner's office said earlier this week. Authorities have suspended some train services over concerns that the heat could warp or deform the rails."I'm really concerned about global warming, but when it comes to my daily life, I can't live without turning on the air conditioner," an office worker in Japan told AFP news."I don't really know what I should be doing, I'm just desperately getting through each day."This intense heat is expected to ease a little in the coming days, with some parts of Japan expected to see as much as 200mm of rain in the coming days. This rain and briefly cooler air will allow some relief from the Korea marked a record streak of 22 "tropical nights" in July where temperatures exceeded 25C. Last month, the country's emergency services also reported a surge in calls about heat-related agencies and workplaces have relaxed their dress codes to help employees work more comfortably and reduce dependence on air conditioning amid the heat. Parts of Vietnam are also baking in unprecedented heat, with Hanoi recording its first-ever August day above 40C. The capital city has turned into "a pan on fire" in the last few days, Nam, a construction worker, told AFP. Storm season It's a different picture in China, where floods across the country, from Shanghai to Beijing, have killed many in recent China has been battered by heavy rain, and on Wednesday emergency workers raced to clear debris as the region braced for more landslides and of flights were cancelled or delayed in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. The flooded streets are threatening to worsen an outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus in the rains are frequent in southern China at this time of the year, but have been enhanced further by tropical storm activity - more especially in the last month. Just last week, there were three active storms in the west Pacific, whilst prior to June, tropical storm activity was almost districts of the capital Beijng late last month were hit by deadly floods late last month which killed dozens including 31 residents in an eldercare home. Heavy rains are especially deadly in mountainous areas prone to landslides and densely populated areas, where flash floods often catch residents than 100 people are missing in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand after a cloudburst - an extreme, sudden downpour of rain over a small area - triggered flash Pakistan, nearly 300 people, including more than 100 children, have died in rain-related incidents since June. The deluge has also destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings - at least a quarter of schools in the Punjab province have been partially or completely damaged, according to British aid agency Save the also brought more than 350mm of rain to Hong Kong, which reports say makes it the city's wettest August day since 1884. For context, Hong Kong gets about 2400mm a year, most of which falls in summer between June and August.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Aussies brace for a cold and wet weekend as mind-blowing map captures huge 3,000km weather system stretching across the country
Aussies have been warned to brace for a wet and cold weekend as a massive 3,000km-long cloud band moves across the country. Weatherzone meteorologist Anthony Sharwood explained the band, extending from the Indian Ocean to Australia's interior, will trigger inclement weather as it creeps eastward. 'As we head towards the end of the working week and into the weekend, we can expect two main effects,' he said. 'Cooler daytime temperatures at many inland locations due to cloud cover preventing daytime warming, even if little or no rain falls. 'Enhanced rainfall potential is the other likely effect. As the stream of tropical moisture shifts further east, it will fuel rainfall over parts of Queensland and NSW. 'An injection of moisture from the Coral Sea will also contribute to the rain in eastern Australia, with another multi-day burst of persistent showers on its way for the east coast.' The tail end of the system had reached the eastern states by Wednesday afternoon, but the rain isn't expected to begin in Queensland and northern NSW until Friday as as the cloud band clashes with a coastal low-pressure system. Wet weather is forecast to intensify on Saturday with Central Queensland expected to bear the brunt of the rain. Areas between Yeppoon and Maryborough could see up to 300mm. Fortunately, the rain is forecast to rapidly ease on Sunday. High pressure over Australia's south-east is expected to bring mostly dry conditions, but another system in the country's west is set to bring rain. Tropical moisture is forecast to trigger rain over WA's south-west, with up to 50mm expected to fall in areas between Perth and Albany. Sydney Friday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Light winds becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the early morning then becoming light in the late evening. Min 11. Max 18. Saturday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. Winds southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending southeasterly during the afternoon then tending southerly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening. Min 12. Max 17. Sunday: Cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeasterly during the day then tending southeast to southwesterly during the afternoon. Min 12. Max 17. Melbourne Friday: Mostly sunny. The chance of morning fog about the nearby hills. Areas of morning frost. Light winds. Min 5. Max 15. Saturday: Areas of frost and the chance of fog in the morning. Sunny afternoon. Light winds. Min 4. Max 15. Sunday: Mostly sunny. The chance of morning fog in the northeast suburbs. Areas of morning frost. Light winds. Min 3. Max 18. Brisbane Friday: Cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds south to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. Min 14. Max 20. Saturday: Cloudy. Very high chance of rain. Winds south to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. Min 13. Max 19. Sunday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds south to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light during the evening. Min 13. Max 21. Perth Friday: Becoming cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the southwest. Winds northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h turning north to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the late morning. Min 11. Max 20. Saturday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the southwest. Winds northerly 20 to 30 km/h turning northwesterly during the day. Min 11. Max 21. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending west to southwesterly during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Min 11. Max 18. Adelaide Friday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Min 6. Max 16. Saturday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning. Min 10. Max 19. Sunday: Mostly sunny morning. Slight chance of a shower, most likely later in the day. Winds northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h turning northerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning. Min 12. Max 19. Hobart Friday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late afternoon. Min 7. Max 14. Saturday: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 5. Max 14. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Min 5. Max 15. Canberra Friday: Partly cloudy. Areas of morning frost. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening. Min -1. Max 15. Saturday: Cloudy. Areas of morning frost. Slight chance of a shower. Winds southerly 15 to 20 km/h turning southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming south to southeasterly and light during the evening. Min -1. Max 15. Sunday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Min 3. Max 15. Darwin Friday: Sunny. The chance of fog in the morning, mainly about the Cox Peninsula. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the late afternoon. Min 21. Max 33. Saturday: Sunny. The chance of morning fog about the Cox Peninsula. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the afternoon. Min 21. Max 33.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Europe's hellfire: France's killer wildfire the size of PARIS continues to rage after tourists in Spain are evacuated and country reports more than 1,000 have died from the heat
France 's deadly wildfire is continuing to tear through the country and cause 'hellish' devastation while tourists are being evacuated in Spain as the country announces one of its highest monthly tallies of heat deaths. The rapidly-growing wildfire, currently burning through an area larger than Paris, in southern France that broke out on Tuesday burned through some 16,000 hectares and remains 'very active' as of Wednesday, according to officials. One woman died in her home and least 13 others were injured, including 11 firefighters, while at least three people were reported missing as about 2,100 firefighters and several water bomber aircraft battled the blaze that broke out in the village of Ribaute in the Aude region, a rural, wooded area that is home to several wineries. 'It's a scene of sadness and desolation,' said Jacques Piraux, mayor of the village of Jonquières, where all residents have been evacuated. 'It looks like a lunar landscape, everything is burned. More than half or three-quarters of the village has burned down.' It is believed to be the nation's worst wildfire since 1949. Meanwhile, 1,500 tourists and locals have been evacuated in Spain as a dramatic forest fire near a beach resort caused chaos in Tarifa, often branded a 'surfer's paradise' due to its extremely wide beaches and tall waves. Regional authorities in Spain said late on Wednesday that a wildfire raging near Tarifa that prompted evacuations had been 'stabilised'. The blaze in France - the biggest the country has seen all summer out of 9,000 fires - has damaged 25 homes in the Aude department, where 1,500 firefighters have been battling to extinguish it. A 65-year-old woman died in her home while nine others were injured, including seven firefighters were hurt as they fought the flames. A De Havilland Dash firefighting aircraft drops fire retardant on a forest fire burning in Saint Laurent de la Cabrerisse, Aude department, France, 6 August 2025 'The resident absolutely wanted to stay in her house and unfortunately the fire quickly arrived and engulfed her house,' said the mayor of Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, Xavier de Volontat, about the victim. 'People are losing everything,' said Aude Damesin, who lives in the town of Fabrezan. 'I find it tragic to see so many fires since the beginning of the summer.' 'The fire is still spreading and is far from being contained or under control,' said Remi Recio, an official in the southern city of Narbonne. The Aude department in particular has seen an increase in areas burnt in recent years, aggravated by low rainfall and the removal of vineyards, which used to help brake the advance of fires. 'The fire is advancing in an area where all the conditions are ripe for it to progress. We are monitoring the edges and the back of the fire to prevent flare-ups,' said Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture. Planes have been dropping water on the flames but Roesch warned 'this fire will keep us busy for several days. It's a long-term operation'. In Spain, hundreds of people were said to have bunkered down in a shelter in Algeciras after being evacuated from hotels and homes near the fire in Tarifa, as beach bars and campsites were abandoned in the chaos. Firefighters were still working to extinguish the fire on Wednesday, having battled through the night to control the blaze that required a team of up to 17 aircraft. The flames began spreading in the hills of Torre de la Peña, behind the hugely popular resort of Tarifa. According to the Andalucia firefighter service INFOCA, there are gusts of 20-25km/hr that are favouring the fire's spread. The fire was snaking very close to the N-340 highway and the Estrecho Natural Park - the former of which has been partially closed between Las Piñas and Pedro Valiente. Tarifa Mayor Antonio Santos has described the situation as unprecedented. 'This is the fastest-spreading fire I've ever seen,' he said on national channel La Sexta. Hundreds of the people evacuated from hotels and homes by the fire were said to have spent the night in a hostel in Algeciras, while droves found shelter in a La Marina sports centre in Tarifa as 5,000 fled the area in cars. Fire stations from elsewhere in the province including Chiclana, Benalup and Los Barrios sent troops to assist the effort against the blaze in Tarifa, as attempts are being concentrated on controlling the fire on the north and east flanks. The heatwave is expected to last until next Sunday, according to Spain's State Meteorological Agency (Aemet). Tourists sit on the beach as the smoke from wildfires raging in the Aude department is seen from the Mediterranean coast in Banyuls-sur-Mer, southwestern France, on August 5 All bars, restaurants or hotels have been evacuated between La Peña and Casas de Porros, reports local newspaper Europa Sur, including beach bars and 'chiringuitos' due to the large amounts of ash being carried down to the shore. According to the local police, the fire started in a motorhome at the Torre la Peña campsite, which also had to be evacuated. The flames then blew westward, away from the campsite, and spread rapidly through a hilly and grassland area where homes and tourist establishments are scattered - including the Wawa Hotel, which is reported to have been affected by the fire. Some 17 aircraft have been roped in to tackle the inferno, which took hold in Cadiz in Andalusia on Tuesday afternoon. The current firefighting operation involves five helicopters, two water-carrying planes and a coordination plane, five forest fire ground crews and more. In the wake of the French fire, French President Emmanuel Macron called on people to exercise the 'utmost caution', saying on X: 'All of the Nation's resources are mobilised.' Camping grounds and one village were partially evacuated, and several local roads have been closed. The fires there spread through a stretch of land roughly equivalent to the size of the French capital between Carcassonne and Narbonne. Four Canadairs, two Dashes and a water bomber helicopter resumed service around 7 am on Wednesday morning to fight the flames, as 100 police officers supported the effort. It comes as the country sees one of its worst months for heat-related deaths, with 1,060 people having died due to high temperatures in July, a 57 per cent increase from figures last year. Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing at twice the speed of the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Southern Europe has seen multiple large fires this summer. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires. The two blazes come just days after fires erupted in Portugal, Greece, and Spain, while tornadoes struck tourist hotspots in parts of Spain and Switzerland. Thousands of firefighters battled a dozen wildfires raging in northern Portugal and central Spain into Wednesday, in the largest wave of blazes in the Iberian Peninsula so far this year following weeks of summer heat. The largest wildfire burned in the wooded, mountainous Arouca area - 185 miles north of Lisbon - since Monday, leading to the closure of the scenic trails of Passadicos do Paiva, a popular tourist attraction. Some 800 firefighters and seven waterbombing aircraft tackled the blaze. 'There was a huge effort during the night, so now we have a somewhat calmer situation,' Civil Protection Commander Helder Silva told reporters, cautioning that shifting strong winds and a difficult terrain meant their work was far from over. 'It's a very large wildfire in areas with difficult access,' he said. Further north, a blaze raged from Saturday in the Peneda-Geres national park near the Spanish border, enveloping nearby villages in thick smoke that led to orders for residents to stay at home. Portuguese firefighters managed to control two large fires that started on Monday in the central areas of Penamacor and Nisa. Authorities said the Penamacor blaze had destroyed 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of forest. British tourists were put on alert as Greece wildfires spread amid a 44C heatwave in late July, causing homes to go up in flames in the coastal towns of Palaia Fokaia and Thymari 25 miles southeast of Athens. Some 145 firefighters, 44 fire engines, ten firefighting planes and seven helicopters were deployed on site as residents of the town of Kryoneri, 12.5miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS warnings to evacuate on July 26.
