Typhoon Narra triggers record floods and mass evacuations in southern China

Typhoon Narra has caused widespread flooding across southern China, submerging homes and prompting mass evacuations, according to the Guardian. In Chongzuo, in the Guangxi region, authorities evacuated more than 15,000 residents on Tuesday after river levels exceeded a record set in 2008. State television reported that a total of 54,000 people have been relocated across Guangxi as a result of the rising waters.

In Chongzuo itself, overflowing river water flooded streets, with levels in some areas reaching rooftops and power lines. City authorities ordered all businesses and tourist services to shut down and urged evacuated residents to stay away from high-risk zones.

Narra came ashore as a tropical storm on Tuesday evening in Hainan province after lingering for days over the Beibu Gulf, dumping heavy rain on Guangxi, Hainan and Guangdong. Forecasters expect torrential rain to continue into Wednesday across parts of Vietnam and southern China, including Fujian province.

Second storm approaches Japan and Taiwan

Meanwhile, a moderate typhoon named Saudel is moving toward southern Japan and northern Taiwan, where it is expected to bring localized heavy rain. Japan's meteorological agency has warned of destructive winds and rough seas as the storm nears Okinawa's south-western islands. Saudel is forecast to pass north of Taiwan from late Thursday into Friday, gradually weakening, before reaching China's Fujian coast.

Separately, a tropical depression brought flooding to Taiwan's southern and eastern cities of Tainan and Kaohsiung, home to more than four million people combined. Authorities reported one death and four people missing. Over three days, Kaohsiung received nearly a metre of rainfall, surpassing the amount recorded during 2009's devastating Typhoon Morakot, which killed roughly 700 people.