The Pearl River Delta in southern China is currently grappling with days of torrential rainfall, resulting in swollen rivers and waterways. Authorities have issued warnings about the imminent threat of heavy flooding in the area.

The storms that battered southern China have caused significant concern, with official media reporting that eleven individuals are currently missing. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated to safeguard against the heavy rains.

In Guangdong province, which has experienced intense rainfall in recent days, swollen rivers have raised fears of floods on a scale rarely seen, estimated to occur approximately once every century, according to official sources. State news agency Xinhua, citing the local emergency management department, confirmed the figure of eleven missing individuals, highlighting the ongoing impact of the relentless downpours across various parts of Guangdong.

It further said that around 53,000 individuals have been moved throughout the province.

According to official media reports on Sunday, over 45,000 individuals were evacuated from Qingyuan, a city in northern Guangdong situated along the banks of the Bei River, a tributary of the larger Pearl River Delta.

Monday's forecast predicts more heavy rain, with weather officials anticipating "thunderstorms and strong winds in Guangdong’s coastal waters" – an area bordering several significant cities, including Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The National Meteorological Centre also forecasts "short-term heavy rainfall" in neighboring provinces such as parts of Guangxi, Guizhou, and Fujian.

"It is expected that the main impact period of strong convection will last from daytime until night," the center added.

Guangdong province stands as China's densely populated manufacturing heartland, housing approximately 127 million people.

In Jiangwan town, heavy rainfall on Sunday led to landslides, injuring six individuals and trapping several others, as reported by state media. Photographs released by state broadcaster CCTV depicted waterfront residences demolished by a surge of brown mud, while people sought refuge in a waterlogged public sports court.

CCTV's report on Sunday warned of impending floods reaching heights of up to 5.8 meters (19 feet) above the warning limit in Pearl River tributaries by Monday morning.

While China has long faced extreme weather events, recent years have witnessed an increase in severe floods, prolonged droughts, and unprecedented heatwaves across the country.

Human-emitted greenhouse gases fuel climate change, leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events. China, as the world's largest emitter, significantly contributes to this global challenge.