Heavy Rains Spur Landslides in China’s Fujian, Killing Four; Two Missing

An aerial drone photo taken on 16 June 2024 shows a flooded area in Dongping Township of Zhenghe County, Nanping City, China's Fujian Province, 16 June 2024. (EPA/Xinhua)
An aerial drone photo taken on 16 June 2024 shows a flooded area in Dongping Township of Zhenghe County, Nanping City, China's Fujian Province, 16 June 2024. (EPA/Xinhua)
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Heavy Rains Spur Landslides in China’s Fujian, Killing Four; Two Missing

An aerial drone photo taken on 16 June 2024 shows a flooded area in Dongping Township of Zhenghe County, Nanping City, China's Fujian Province, 16 June 2024. (EPA/Xinhua)
An aerial drone photo taken on 16 June 2024 shows a flooded area in Dongping Township of Zhenghe County, Nanping City, China's Fujian Province, 16 June 2024. (EPA/Xinhua)

Torrential rain triggered landslides in China's Fujian province, killing four people and leaving two missing, state television CCTV reported on Monday.

Downpours in Wuping county since Sunday afternoon have caused 378 homes to collapse and prompted authorities to launch an emergency flood response. Fujian provincial meteorological bureau classified the storms as "extreme events," CCTV reported.

Over the past few days, heavy rain has inundated the province, breaking a historical record in Wuping county. Economic losses in the county totaled 415 million yuan ($57.19 million), state media reported.

Many parts of southern China have been impacted by rains over the past few days, with many localities issuing flood warnings and advisories.

In Jiangxi province from 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday, the average rainfall was 24 mm, with 288 weather stations in 56 counties recording considerable precipitation, state media said.

In Chongqing, the torrential rain caused water levels of five rivers to rise by 1 to 3 meters, according to CCTV.



Zelenskiy Says Trump Assured Him of Support for Ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on as he meets with democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris (not pictured), in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, US, September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on as he meets with democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris (not pictured), in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, US, September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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Zelenskiy Says Trump Assured Him of Support for Ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on as he meets with democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris (not pictured), in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, US, September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy looks on as he meets with democratic presidential nominee and US Vice President Kamala Harris (not pictured), in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, US, September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in an interview with Fox News aired on Saturday, said he received "very direct information" from Donald Trump that the former US president would support Ukraine in the war against Russia if he is reelected in the November presidential election.

Zelenskiy, who was in the United States for the UN General Assembly, presented his war "victory plan" to Trump during a closed-door meeting on Friday, after the Republican presidential candidate said he would work with both Ukraine and Russia to end their conflict.

Speaking to Fox News after that meeting, Zelenskiy said: "I don't know what will be after elections and who will be the president ... But I've got from Donald Trump very direct information that he will be on our side, that he will support Ukraine."

He has used his US visit to promote his "victory plan," which a US official described as a repackaged request for more weapons and a lifting of restrictions on the use of long-range missiles. The plan presupposes the ultimate defeat of Russia in the war, the official said. Some officials see the aim as unrealistic.

Zelenskiy, who also met with US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden, said he was seeking united US support in its continuing war with Russia and was not backing either side in US elections.

"I don't want to be involved to the election period ... I don't want to lose one or another part of Americans," Zelenskiy told Fox News.

On Friday, Trump said he was pleased to meet with Zelenskiy, a marked change in tone from some of his previous comments on the campaign trail.

Trump and Harris' differences on Ukraine echo splits in their respective Democratic and Republican parties, and their view of the US role in the world.

Trump and some Republicans in Congress have questioned the value of US funding and additional weapons for Ukraine's two-year battle against Russia, calling it futile, while Democrats led by Biden have pushed to punish Russia and bolster Ukraine, framing Ukraine's victory as a vital national security interest.