Floods Destroy Crops in Southern China as Food Crisis Worsen

Two provinces in southern China raised flood warnings on June 21st as water levels reached record levels, according to Communist China media. People were forced to leave their homes and jobs were severely affected after weeks of heavy rains.

The average rainfall since late May in Shaoguan, Guangdong province has broken an all-time record as flood reached its highest level in 50 years. The city raised its flood alert to Level 1, the highest level.

Authorities are asking residents of riverside communities and low-lying neighborhoods to move to higher ground. Construction sites, businesses, public transportation and docks may be forced to close, the city’s Flood, Drought and Typhoon Control Command said.

Beijiang River’s water levels in Guangdong also rose to warning levels, surpassing the record in 1994. The city of Qingyuan in Guangdong also raised its flood warning to the highest level. Authorities raised the alert to “red” after flooding affected 485,000 people in nine districts in Jiangxi province.

CCP media said that the specific economic losses reached 470 million yuan, and 43,300 hectares of crops were destroyed.

As Chinese-made goods become increasingly important in global supply chains, the devastating consequences of the floods can affect the supply of goods in other countries.