Rescue workers across southern China are scrambling to clear debris and flooded roads after some of the most extreme downpours in recent memory, with more heavy rain expected in the coming days.
Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, was hit with the second-heaviest August rainfall this century, triggering mass flight cancellations at the busy Baiyun airport and severe disruptions across the region.
In Hong Kong, the skies darkened before unleashing the heaviest August downpour since 1884, submerging streets and overwhelming drainage systems.
The deluge has sparked new fears of disease outbreaks, particularly chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness that had been on the decline before the latest rains. More than 7,000 infections have already been reported in Guangdong, with stagnant water providing ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. Authorities now face a dual crisis of weather disaster and public health threat.
The city of Foshan has become the centre of the outbreak, while at least a dozen other cities have reported rising cases. Though chikungunya is rarely fatal, its symptoms, including high fever and joint pain, are debilitating.
China has endured weeks of meteorological turmoil, with climate experts pointing to a stalled East Asian monsoon and rising global temperatures as drivers of the chaos. Flooding has displaced thousands and damaged infrastructure, while emergency officials warn that up to three typhoons could still hit this month.
Beijing has released over one billion yuan in disaster relief for Guangdong and other regions. Yet the economic impact may be uneven. Analysts say localised damage will hit agriculture and retail hardest, while industries like cold storage may benefit from rising demand.
In some areas, life has ground to a halt. In others, residents brace for worse.
