China NOW! Devastation in Guangzhou: Tornado Strikes China’s Economic Hub | Crisis Alert!

On April 27th, a strong tornado swept through the city of Guangzhou, one of China’s largest economic centers, leaving behind extensive destruction and human casualties. Guangzhou, with a population of over 14 million people, is the third-largest city in China, trailing only Beijing and Shanghai. The tornado struck around 3:00 p.m. in the Baiyun district, in the northern suburb of the city, lasting less than four minutes and traveling a path of about one kilometer. The giant funnel crushed everything in its path, causing fires in power lines, demolishing buildings, and hurling debris hundreds of meters away. A weather station in the Baiyun district, approximately 1.7 miles from the tornado’s “point of origin,“ recorded a maximum wind gust of 20.6 meters per second. As a result of the disaster, five people died and 33 were injured. 141 factory buildings were seriously damaged. Preliminary assessments indicate the tornado was of the third out of five levels of intensity. A tornado that struck during a daytime thunderstorm was accompanied by heavy rain and hail. In the areas of Zengcheng and Panyu in the city of Guangzhou, hail the size of eggs fell. It damaged cars and building windows. A local resident shared that the tornado and hailstorm were terrifying. At Guangzhou Airport, one of the busiest in the country, numerous flights were canceled. Water flooded the airport building through cracks in the roof. During these days, the Canton Fair, the largest import-export exhibition attracting buyers from around the world, is taking place in Guangzhou. Exporters reported a slowdown in visitor flow due to the weather conditions, which could negatively impact the country’s economy. The total rainfall for April in Guangzhou reached 17.9 inches by Saturday, the highest April rainfall in the last 73 years. There is so much water that it is seeping into buildings. In Guangdong province, with Guangzhou as its capital, prolonged rains followed by floods and landslides have led to road blockages, building collapses, and the relocation of around 110,000 residents of the province. In the coming days, the province is forecasted to experience intensified rainfall with a high risk of large hail and tornadoes. In recent years, various parts of China have suffered from deadly extreme weather. According to scientists’ forecasts, the number and intensity of catastrophes in the country will continue to rise rapidly, making the territory of China practically uninhabitable in the coming years. More information on what is happening on the planet, which countries are at risk, and how to avoid such negative developments is presented at the “Global Crisis. The Responsibility“ forum.