China Issues Red Alert for Heavy Rainfall

China is bracing for torrential rains, with a red alert issued on Monday for several regions, particularly in the central part of the country. This warning comes in the aftermath of a deadly landslide.

Heavy rains are expected to affect large swathes of the country, ranging from Yunnan in the southwest, near Vietnam, to the coastal Zhejiang province in the east, close to Shanghai, and Hunan in the central region.

The China Meteorological Administration reported that the red alert, the highest level in the country, was activated in parts of these vast areas, with localized rainfall expected to reach 270 millimeters.

The meteorological agency warned that the heavy rains could persist until Thursday. In eastern China, the renowned Huangshan site, famous for its picturesque mountain scenery, has been closed to visitors due to the severe weather.

Xinhua News Agency reported that 54,000 people were evacuated on Sunday because of the adverse weather conditions.

In recent months, China has experienced extreme weather conditions and unusually high local temperatures, exacerbated by climate change, according to scientists.

A landslide in a mountainous area in central China on Sunday resulted in at least eight fatalities, according to a report by the state broadcaster CCTV.

The recent heavy rains have also led to flooding, particularly in Guangdong province in the south, a region symbolic of China's industrial might. These floods have claimed at least 38 lives, according to an official report released on Friday.

Meanwhile, the northern part of the country, including the capital Beijing, has faced scorching temperatures at the start of the month, with local temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius.