Thousands of Towns and Villages Devastated by Floods in China

Extreme Rain Events and floods destroy or damage an estimated 200,000 homes affecting 50 million people

Extreme rain events and devastating floods have left about 600 people dead or missing and affected up to 50 million others  in 30 provinces since the beginning of the year, authorities said.

The toll so far this year stands at

• No of people killed by floods: at least 337 
• No of people missing: 213
  
• No of injuries: NOT released, possibly thousands
• No of houses destroyed: at least 150,000
• No of houses damaged: NOT released, probably hundreds of thousands
• Farmland affected: 4 million hectares
• Source: China’s Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (SFCDRH)

And the flood season hasn’t even started!

“China is expected to face serious flood control challenges in the next 30 days as it heads into flood season,” said a report quoting the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

This year’s flood season will run from about July 15 to Aug 15, authorities said.

Heavy rainfall is expected in northern and southwestern China, causing severe flooding in many major rivers, such as the upper reaches of the Yangtze, Haihe, Yellow, Songhua and Liaohe rivers.

Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Henan and Guangdong provinces should expect 24-hour rainfall amounts of up to 200 mm, said the National Meteorological Center.

Sichuan will be in the height of its rainy season over the next few months, possibly bringing more chaos to the already battered province.

“Since most of the same parts of Sichuan province will be hit again with heavy rainfall, severe floods, flash floods and mudslides are likely,” said a Ministry of Water Resources official. (Xinhua)

Meantime, Tropical Cyclone CIMARON, the eighth storm of the year, is forecast to make landfall  in Southeast China on Friday, just days after Tropical Storm SOULIK hit Fujian and Jiangxi provinces.

Sichuan Province

Rainstorms and floods hit 43 counties in Sichuan producing total  precipitations of 400 mm to 800 mm in Deyang and Dujiangyan, and 800 mm to 1,151 mm in some areas  between July 7 and 12, said deputy head of the Sichuan Provincial Meteorological Administration.

The extreme events destroyed 13,400 houses, affecting 3.47 million people and forcing at least 300,000 people to relocate.

Related Links

• China to Become Top Wheat Importer after Major Crop Disaster July 17, 2013
• Fire Destroys 200 Houses in SW China July 17, 2013
• Flooding Destroys Town of Caopo in SW China July 16, 2013

• Typhoon SOULIK Affects 2 Million in China  July 15, 2013
• Hundreds of Thousands Evacuated as SOULIK Hits China July 13, 2013
• Extreme Weather Wreaks Havoc in SW China July 10, 2013

China to Become Top Wheat Importer after Major Crop Disaster

Frost and rain have ruined more wheat in China than previously estimated: Report

Weather damage in China’s northern grain belt may have ruined more than  20 million metric tons of the wheat crop, or 16 percent, which is double the volume previously estimated, said a report.

“Higher imports, which have already been revised upwards on initial damage reports, will further shrink global supplies and support prices, fuelling new worries over global food security.”

“The harvest was terrible”

Farmers in Henan, China’s top wheat producing Province, say frost in the growing period and rainstorms during the harvest have slashed production by 40 percent compared with 2012, the report said .

Global wheat output is forecast to rise this year, but will still fall  below demand resulting in  the  lowest wheat stocks since 2008/09.

In 2012, China accounted for about 20 percent of global wheat production and consumption.

China is expected to become top wheat buyer in 2014, eclipsing Egypt as the world’s top importer, the report said.

The crop damage in China is adding to concerns over global food supplies following the crop quality downgrades experienced by the United States and the Black Sea region due to adverse weather.

Exclusive: China may become top wheat importer after crops ruined

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The Big Picture

FIRE-EARTH population model shows mass die-offs resulting from human impact on the planet and the planetary response to the anthropogenic harm could occur by early 2016.

FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show climate change forcings and feedbacks switching global weather patterns onto “primordial tracks.”

The extreme weather events triggered by anthropogenic climate change have a four-prong impact on humans over the next 50 months [forecast released in 2011.] FIRE-EARTH models forecast:

1. Food production:

• Average decline of 22% in the global agricultural output
• Loss of topsoil and worsening of soil quality
• Rapid Climate Change & Extreme Weather Events
  • Drought and Deluge
  • Extremes of Temperature
  • Heatwaves and Late Frosts
  • Desertification and Dust Storms
• Crop Pests
• Increases in the size and occurrence of dead zones
• Large decline in marine food sources

2. Spread of Disease

• Substantial increases in the spread of diseases
  • Vector borne
  • Air borne
  • Water borne
  • Food borne
• Superbugs:  Emergence of resistant bacteria, especially MDR bacteria
• Resurgence of killer infectious diseases
• Increases in the spread of human immunodeficiency viruses
• Significant decline in air quality (and corresponding increase in chronic respiratory diseases)
• Other viral diseases
• Massive rises in mental illnesses

3. Physical Safety

Major increases in the number of deaths and injuries, as well as large scale displacements due to the loss of shelter and livelihood caused by extreme weather and geophysical events including:

• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Storms and Extreme Weather
• Climate Change
• Extreme Rain Events
• Flash Flooding
• Drought and Deluge
• Landslides
• Extremes of Temperature
• Deforestation
• Wildfires
• Loss of “Seasons”
• Earthquakes*
• Tsunamis*
• Volcanic activity*
• Nuclear Incidents
• Oil Spills
• Chemical and Biological Threats
• Poisoned and Polluted Environment (Air, Water and Soil pollution)
• Ozone Depletion  (Ozone Holes)

4. The Combined Effect

Social upheavals, regional conflicts and wars caused by mass migrations and scarcity of basic resources resulting from the combined effects of the above, as well as other mechanisms.

July 17, 2013 – SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN –

969 Days Left

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.