China: 10 Killed in Tornado, Further Bad Weather Expected

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Facts

  • At least ten people have died and several others have been left injured in China after tornadoes and severe weather tore through the eastern province of Jiangsu on Tuesday.1
  • According to preliminary statistics, the tornado caused the collapse of at least 137 houses and affected more than 5,500 people.2
  • Officials say that five people were killed and four were badly injured when the tornado suddenly hit a densely-populated area in Suqian, damaging more than 1,646 homes and devastating acres of crops. The tornado then hit Yancheng, killing five more people and injuring an additional four.3
  • Weather warnings went out across the region, while additional severe weather warnings went out on Wednesday for the southwestern region of Chongqing, several areas in southwestern Guizhou, southern Hunan, eastern Anhui, and central Hubei.4
  • The incident is the latest in several weeks of destructive and deadly weather in China, with officials warning those in coastal areas near the Yellow Sea off Jiangsu to brace for further strong winds.5
  • China experienced record-breaking rain and weeks of severe heat this summer — scientists have said climate change is causing the exacerbation of extreme weather in the country.4

Sources: 1South china morning post, 2Barrons, 3Reuters, 4Al Jazeera and 5NBC.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by China dialogue. Climate change is making extreme weather worse in China and the government is doing its best to adapt to and overcome the challenges posed by these extreme weather events. By improving the country's ability to monitor and warn of climate change and extreme weather using big data and artificial intelligence, China will be able to better respond to extreme weather events and their consequences, as well as to minimize the damage to populations and industries that extreme weather may cause.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Reuters. While Chinese scientists, state media, and officials have said in the past that climate change makes their country more vulnerable to extreme weather, they seem more apprehensive to state the connection this year. Despite the fact that climate change-exacerbated weather events have caused numerous deaths and significant property damage this year, the country has placed the burden of fighting climate change on what they call 'more developed countries' and left its own carbon emissions — which amount to nearly a third of the global total — unchecked and uncriticized.

Predictions