Severe weather linked to Typhoon Saudel has caused deadly landslides and widespread destruction in parts of eastern and southern China, leaving several people dead, others missing, and hundreds of residents affected by flooding and collapsing homes.
Authorities continue search and rescue operations after a mudslide struck a village in Suichuan County, located in Jiangxi province, early on Saturday. The disaster followed days of intense rainfall that saturated the ground and increased the risk of landslides across the region.
Emergency officials reported that the mudslide hit a section of the village without warning, damaging homes and trapping residents. Rescue teams were quickly deployed to the area while local authorities moved villagers to safer locations to prevent additional casualties.
Initial rescue efforts led to the recovery of one victim who was found dead after being pulled from the debris. Two other residents were rescued alive and were reported to be in stable condition. Search operations continued through the weekend as teams worked to locate those still missing.
On Sunday, rescuers recovered another body from among collapsed buildings in the affected village. The discovery increased the confirmed death toll from the Jiangxi mudslide to two, while 10 people remained unaccounted for.
Officials said difficult conditions, unstable terrain, and continuing risks from saturated soil have complicated rescue efforts. Emergency workers are using heavy equipment and search teams to clear debris and search damaged areas.
The disaster is one of several weather-related emergencies linked to Typhoon Saudel, which has brought heavy rainfall to multiple provinces over the past week. Meteorologists have warned that prolonged rainfall can significantly increase the risk of landslides, flash floods, and structural damage.
In neighboring regions, authorities have also reported casualties and widespread destruction. In Hunan province, located in south-central China, two people died following severe rainfall associated with the storm system. Officials stated that the downpours triggered landslides and other natural disasters across parts of the province.
The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths in Hunan were not immediately disclosed. However, local authorities confirmed that heavy rainfall caused significant disruptions and created dangerous conditions in several communities.
Typhoon Saudel has followed an unusual path across eastern China. Weather officials reported that the storm made landfall twice in Zhejiang province in late August before moving inland. It later weakened but made another landfall as a tropical storm in Fujian province on Thursday.
Although the storm gradually lost strength, it continued to bring large amounts of rain to affected regions. Provinces neighboring the storm’s path experienced flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage as weather systems lingered over the area.
Fujian province has also reported serious impacts. Local authorities said several residents remained missing after days of continuous rain. While officials have not released a confirmed number of missing people, reports indicate that extensive damage occurred in multiple communities.
One of the hardest-hit locations was Huating Town in Putian city, where more than 100 houses reportedly collapsed due to flooding and unstable ground conditions. Emergency crews have been working to assist affected residents and assess the extent of the damage.
Authorities also reported that a dike failed on Thursday afternoon, allowing floodwaters to surge into nearby villages. The flooding trapped residents and forced emergency responders to carry out rescue operations in several areas.
The latest disasters highlight the growing challenges posed by extreme weather events during China’s typhoon season. Heavy rainfall often creates secondary hazards such as mudslides and flooding, especially in mountainous and rural regions.
Government agencies have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions when necessary. Emergency response teams continue to monitor conditions as recovery and rescue operations move forward.
As search efforts continue in Jiangxi and other affected provinces, authorities remain focused on locating the missing, supporting displaced families, and preventing additional losses from further rainfall and unstable terrain.
