The death toll from recent heavy rains and flooding in Yemen climbed to 61 on Sunday, according to a statement by the Executive Unit for the Management of Displaced Persons Camps in Yemen.
Severe flooding in the country in the south of the Arabian Peninsula has caused widespread devastation. According to a report released on Sunday by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen, torrential rains have affected 34,260 families, with displaced persons bearing the brunt of the impact.
As the floods receded in Al-Suwaidiyah village in Zabid District, located in western Yemen, the village remained in ruin. According to local authorities, the flood caused a total of three deaths in the village and destroyed more than 40 houses completely or partially.
"It suddenly began raining heavily in the evening of that day (Aug 6). Our house was damaged. Furniture and cattle were also washed away. We only rescued some cattle. Everything else was gone," said disaster victim Mohammed Nasser.
The rainy season in western Yemen usually arrives in early July and lasts for nearly two months. However, due to climate change, this year's rainy season only arrived at the end of July, and the amount of precipitation per day has been much higher this year than in previous years.
As the situation worsens, Yemen's National Center of Meteorology has issued warnings to citizens throughout the country, urging them to avoid watercourses and exercise caution. The center forecasts continued heavy rainfall, floods, and strong winds, particularly in the highlands and western and southern regions of the country.
Last Thursday, the Yemeni government called for international support to help address the damage caused by recent heavy rains and floods.
Death toll from Yemen flooding rises to 61
Death toll from Yemen flooding rises to 61
Death toll from Yemen flooding rises to 61
With the introduction of new real estate policies in China's four major cities, industry insiders believe that the measures taken by multiple departments will help boost market confidence and contribute to the recovery of the property market, with first-tier cities leading the trend.
In late September, major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen introduced a new wave of real estate policy adjustments aimed at revitalizing the property market.
Starting October 1, Beijing introduced new property policies focused on easing purchase restrictions and increasing credit support. The minimum down payment for first-time home buyers has dropped from 20 percent to 15 percent, and from 30 percent to 20 percent for second homes - easing financial pressure and facilitating both first-time buyers and those looking to upgrade their homes.
Beijing’s real estate market has shown promising signs under these policy incentives. In the three days following the new policy release, the number of viewings for new homes in the Chinese capital increased by 92.5 percent compared to the same period last year, with purchase agreements doubling. Viewings for resale homes also rose by 104.1 percent year on year.
"Since the new policies came out, we've seen a rise in customer inquiries, whether they're looking to buy or sell a home. The number of customer viewings has also increased. Around 90 percent of them are looking to upgrade their homes. Some clients previously lacked confidence, but the new policy has made many feel that now is a good time to make a move," said Wu Bei, regional manager of Maitian Real Estate Agency.
In addition to Beijing, other first-tier cities such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou have introduced similar measures, including lower down payment requirements and eased district-specific purchase restrictions.
"As the new policies take effect, we expect a rise in visits to real estate agencies and property viewings after the National Day holiday. We also anticipate that property prices will soon stabilize across the country, driven by Beijing and other top-tier cities," said Zhao Qingxiang, secretary general of the Beijing Real Estate Agency Association.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, cities conducting promotional activities reported over a 50-percent year-on-year increase in visits to real estate projects during the week-long National Day holiday. Some properties in Guangzhou saw over 150 visits per day, up 200 percent from normal levels.
Adjusted policies motivate China's home sales: experts
