Four people were killed in a landslide in Jiangxi Province, eastern China, triggered by Typhoon Saudel (known in China as Shade'er), the season's 18th typhoon, which took an exceptionally rare path making landfall in China three separate times.

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The scene in Gaoping Town, Suichuan County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, China, affected by Typhoon Saudel, the season's 18th typhoon. Rescue workers search for missing persons. / Beijing Daily

According to a report by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 7th, a landslide occurred on the 5th in Zuo'an Town, Suichuan County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, leaving one person dead and one missing. Prior to this incident, a landslide and slope collapse in Gaoping Town within the same county left three people dead and nine missing. As a result, the death toll from the landslides in the area rose to four.

Disaster management authorities believe that several days of torrential rain brought by Typhoon Saudel triggered the landslides. In the landslide-stricken area of Gaoping Town, a secondary disaster occurred on the night of the same day as soil washed down once again. Authorities are conducting search and rescue operations.

According to an announcement by Jiangxi provincial authorities, approximately 161,500 people were affected by Typhoon Saudel. In response, the Jiangxi Provincial Committee for Disaster Prevention, Reduction, and Relief activated a provincial Level III emergency response for disaster relief around midday on the 5th.

China's Ministry of Natural Resources also elevated its emergency response level for geological disasters in Jiangxi Province from Level IV to Level III on the same day and dispatched working teams to support on-site rescue operations.

Local media reported that Typhoon Saudel took an unusual path, making landfall three times along eastern China over the course of about two weeks and inflicting widespread damage. After making landfall twice in China late last month, Saudel made its third landfall along the coast of Zhangzhou City in Fujian Province on the 3rd before weakening later that day.

In this regard, Chinese media outlets reported, "Typhoon Saudel lasted more than twice as long as a typical typhoon and exhibited an extremely unusual track, representing a rare occurrence in recorded meteorological history." In light of that prolonged lifespan and path, the loss of life could be seen as comparatively limited.

                                                                                                           Hong Soon-do