Polish Air Force pilot dies in F-16 crash before Radom airshow
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show....
The residents of Pingtou, a small village in China's southern Guangdong province, are grappling with the worst floods in living memory. While the region is accustomed to typhoons and seasonal downpours, this week’s flooding has shocked even the oldest villagers.
Between August 2 and 6, a record 622.6 mm (24.5 inches) of rain fell on Guangzhou, the provincial capital—nearly three times the city’s average August rainfall. According to state media, at least seven people died in Guangzhou, while no fatalities have been confirmed in Pingtou so far.
In Pingtou, the flooding has left homes submerged and streets waterlogged. Villagers waded through brown, knee-deep water on Friday, dragging damaged belongings from their homes. At least four buildings collapsed during the torrential rains.
“The older folks say that in the 100 years we've been here, they've never seen flooding like this,” said Mr. Zhong, a resident in his 50s. Water marks on nearby homes rose more than a metre high.
Lack of warning and support
Despite the scale of the flooding, residents say they received no warning or alerts. Many were caught off guard during the night.
73-year-old Zhang was woken by her daughter-in-law and took shelter in her son’s two-storey home. The next morning, she discovered her own house had collapsed.
“I’d been living in that house for over 50 years,” she said, sifting through the wreckage.
Others echoed frustration over the absence of government support. Mr. Zhong said officials told residents there was no relief aid available.
“There wasn’t even a bottle of mineral water provided,” he said.
Economic loss for farmers
Outside the village, local fish and duck farmer Hu Songlin said the floods had swept away his fish stock, causing immediate losses estimated at 120,000 yuan.
“Now we won’t be able to earn a single cent,” his wife Hua said.
Wider climate impact across China
The crisis in Pingtou is part of a larger pattern of extreme weather affecting China. The country is currently dealing with record rainfall in both its northern and southern regions, alongside extended heatwaves in its interior provinces.
On Thursday, China’s central government announced 430 million yuan ($59.9 million) in additional disaster relief funding, raising the total since April to over 5.8 billion yuan. Yet, many local communities, such as Pingtou, report not seeing this support on the ground.
Climate change a driving factor
Experts point to climate change as a key driver of the country’s increasing weather volatility.
“Global warming can lead to more intense rainfall,” said Professor Johnny Chan of the City University of Hong Kong. “But there’s only so much water—so when one region gets more, others get less. We're seeing wetter areas get wetter, and dry regions become even drier.”
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
Pakistan’s eastern towns of Chiniot and Hafizabad are at risk of devastating floods if an irrigation barrage on a major upstream river collapses after torrential rains pushed it beyond capacity, officials warned on Thursday.
Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain have signed an agreement with China to jointly develop a $220 million solar energy project.
A deadly landslide triggered by heavy rain struck a major Hindu pilgrimage route in Jammu, killing at least 30 people and disrupting communication across the region.
Wind farm developer Orsted's plan to raise much-needed capital is at risk following a U.S. order to halt construction of a near-complete project, and the Danish group's share price could come under pressure on Monday, analysts said.
Brazil’s government has ruled out subsidising hotel costs for delegates attending the COP30 climate summit in Belém this November, despite growing concerns over soaring accommodation prices.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment