Storms kill at least eight in central China as Typhoon Bavi looms offshore

BEIJING — At least eight people were killed after thunderstorms battered central China's Hubei Province, state media reported Tuesday, as forecasters warned of more torrential rain across several parts of the country that are home to around 200 million people.

State news agency Xinhua, citing Hubei's emergency management authorities, said winds of up to 149 kph (92.6 mph) swept through the cities of Huangshi, Huanggang, Ezhou and Xianning over a four-hour period on Monday evening.

China's National Meteorological Center warned that the Guangxi region and the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Shandong could receive up to 260 mm of rain over the next 24 hours, raising the risk of landslides. Other areas in northeastern and southern China were also forecast to experience tornadoes.

Hubei and Shandong are among China's major agricultural provinces, with heavy rainfall threatening corn, peanut and vegetable crops that are harvested later in the season than wheat.

Meteorologists have linked the increasing frequency of extreme weather events to climate change. In recent years, severe floods have inundated cities, disrupted industrial operations and damaged crops, contributing to billions of dollars in annual economic losses.

China is also monitoring Super Typhoon Bavi as it moves across the Pacific Ocean toward Taiwan. The U.S. National Weather Service said the storm packed sustained winds of up to 180 mph as it passed Guam, Tinian, Saipan and Rota on Monday. -Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Stephen Coates/Reuters