China's Plum Rains Unleash Havoc

China's northern and western regions are under threat from flash floods and landslides as the annual 'Plum Rains' wreak havoc. Thousands of rescue workers are deployed across the country, pulling people from floodwaters as red alerts are issued following the path of the destructive rains.

In Henan province's town of Taiping, over 1,000 rescue workers were dispatched after torrential rains led to a river bursting its banks, resulting in five deaths and three missing persons. The severe weather disrupted transportation, with train services to Beijing suspended and flights delayed at one of the city's airports.

Meteorologists link the extreme weather to climate change, posing significant challenges to policymakers as they confront overwhelmed flood defences and potential threats to the country's agricultural sector. Last July, economic losses from natural disasters exceeded $10 billion due to these seasonal rains.

(With inputs from agencies.)