China is battling the aftermath of Typhoon Saudel, as torrential rain triggered widespread flooding, landslides and infrastructure damage across eastern parts of the country. Nearly 600,000 people have been evacuated from high-risk areas in Fujian Province, where the storm brought intense rainfall and flooding. Authorities have deployed emergency crews and rescue teams as communities face dangerous conditions.
The disaster has also spread beyond Fujian. In neighbouring Jiangxi Province, prolonged heavy rain linked to Saudel triggered a major mudslide that killed at least one person and left 11 others missing.
Homes Collapse as Floodwaters Rise
Typhoon Saudel’s impact in Fujian has been severe. More than 100 houses reportedly collapsed in Huating Town in Putian, while flooding after a breached dike forced authorities to move residents away from dangerous areas.
Images and videos from affected communities have shown streets transformed into rivers, with emergency personnel using inflatable boats to reach stranded residents.
Schools have been closed and ferry services suspended in parts of the province as authorities attempt to limit movement in areas threatened by flooding.
One Dead, 11 Missing in Jiangxi
The situation became even more dangerous in Jiangxi. A mudslide struck Suichuan County after days of heavy rain, damaging around a dozen homes. One person has been confirmed dead and 11 people remain missing, while rescue teams continue searching the affected area. Two people were reportedly rescued and were in stable condition.
The incident highlights the secondary danger posed by powerful tropical systems: even after the strongest winds weaken, saturated ground and continuing rainfall can trigger deadly landslides and flash floods.
What Is Typhoon Saudel?
Typhoon Saudel made multiple landfalls along China’s eastern coast before weakening into a tropical storm. Its prolonged interaction with the region has nevertheless produced extremely heavy rainfall and dangerous flooding.
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The storm follows Typhoon Dolphin, which struck eastern China in August and forced more than one million people to evacuate as heavy rain and flooding affected large parts of the region.
China Faces Another Extreme Weather Test
The latest disaster comes after a summer of repeated extreme weather events across China.For authorities, the immediate priority is rescuing trapped residents, locating missing people and preventing further casualties as rivers, slopes and already-saturated ground remain dangerous.
The Saudel disaster is also another reminder that the greatest threat from a typhoon isn’t always the wind. Flooding, landslides and collapsing infrastructure can continue to claim lives long after a storm weakens.
For now, China’s emergency services remain on high alert as the country deals with the aftermath of one of the latest major storms to hit its eastern provinces.
