Daijiworld Media Network – Beijing

Beijing, Jul 7: At least eight people were killed after severe thunderstorms battered central China's Hubei Province, prompting authorities to issue fresh warnings of torrential rain and extreme weather across several parts of the country.

According to state media, powerful storms struck the cities of Huangshi, Huanggang, Ezhou and Xianning on Monday evening, with winds reaching up to 149 kmph over a span of four hours.

China's National Meteorological Centre has warned that the southeastern Guangxi region and the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Shandong could receive up to 260 mm of rainfall over the next 24 hours, increasing the risk of landslides and flash floods. Other parts of northeastern and southern China have also been warned of possible tornadoes.

The severe weather has raised concerns over agricultural losses, particularly in Hubei and Shandong, two of China's major farming regions. Heavy rainfall could damage corn, peanut and vegetable crops that are due to be harvested later in the season.

China has experienced a series of extreme weather events in recent years, with floods inundating cities, disrupting industries and causing widespread crop damage. Meteorologists have linked the increasing frequency and intensity of such events to climate change.

Meanwhile, authorities are also monitoring Super Typhoon Bavi as it moves across the Pacific Ocean towards Taiwan. According to the US National Weather Service, the storm was packing winds of up to 180 mph (around 290 kmph) as it passed over Guam, Tinian, Saipan and Rota on Monday.