Mudslide in eastern China kills one, more heavy rain expected

One person died and three remain missing after a mudslide in China's eastern Zhejiang Province on Friday. The disaster occurred around 6:30 a.m. in Changxing County when a flash flood, caused by sudden heavy rain, triggered the mudslide and collapsed a house, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Eastern and southern provinces are now bracing for further heavy rainfall and potential floods. Remnants of Typhoon Dolphin are forecast to bring more severe weather from Friday to Sunday. A major flood is also anticipated in Lake Tai, China's third-largest freshwater lake.

This event occurs as China grapples with increasingly destructive weather patterns, which scientists attribute to climate change and an emerging El Niño. July alone saw 318 people dead or missing and economic losses of $8.5 billion due to typhoons Maysak, Bavi, and Noul. These figures represent an increase compared to the previous year.

Authorities are taking precautionary measures, including organizing the evacuation of 781 people in Henan Province after a riverbank breached. The country's vulnerability to extreme weather events highlights the growing challenges posed by climate change.