In the wake of relentless rainstorms battering Guangdong province in southern China, a tragic incident unfolded early Wednesday, resulting in a landslide that claimed multiple lives and left a significant stretch of a key roadway engulfed. State media reported that the incident occurred along a road connecting Meizhou city and Dabu county, causing 20 vehicles to be trapped and involving a total of 54 individuals.

According to Xinhua, the state news agency, the landslide has thus far resulted in 24 confirmed fatalities, with an additional 30 individuals currently receiving urgent medical attention in hospitals. While the recovery efforts continue, authorities have assured that the lives of those hospitalized are not presently at risk, though specific details regarding their injuries remain undisclosed.

Aerial imagery released by state broadcaster CCTV depicted a harrowing scene of destruction, with wrecked vehicles strewn amidst a deep, muddy chasm where the highway once stood. Emergency responders, including fire crews and rescue teams, have mobilized to the site to aid in the ongoing search and rescue operations.

CCTV attributed the collapse to a “natural geological disaster” exacerbated by the persistent heavy rainfall that has plagued the region in recent weeks. The landslide resulted in the collapse of an approximately 18-meter segment of the roadway, further complicating the efforts to restore normalcy to the area.

This calamity marks the latest in a series of devastating events to afflict Guangdong province, which has been grappling with severe weather conditions including floods and tornadoes. Just last month, torrential downpours triggered widespread flooding, claiming several lives and displacing over 100,000 residents. The toll of these disasters underscores the unprecedented nature of the recent weather patterns, with some areas experiencing record-breaking rainfall not seen since the establishment of meteorological records in 1954.

The incidents underscore the growing concerns over the impact of climate change, with experts linking the intensified weather phenomena to the broader trend of global warming. Yin Zhijie, the chief hydrology forecaster at the Ministry of Water Resources, warned of the elevated risk of heavy rains, typically associated with the summer months, occurring earlier in the year due to climate change.

As China grapples with its status as the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gases, authorities have pledged to combat climate change by striving for carbon neutrality by 2060. However, the tragic events in Guangdong serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for concerted efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and bolster resilience against natural disasters.

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