Ports in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region processed a record volume of traffic in 2025, signaling robust growth in trade and tourism, regional authorities announced on Friday.
Border checkpoints across Xinjiang inspected a total of 4.435 million entries and exits throughout the year, a significant 36.4 percent increase from the previous year, according to newly released data.
The number of vehicle trips also set a new record, rising to 1.724 million, a 26.6 percent year-on-year increase.
The surge in activity was further highlighted by over 58 million trips made by domestic and international tourists who visited Xinjiang for cross-border trade, tourism, and border-area travel.
Xinjiang port traffic reaches all-time high in 2025
South Africa's National Disaster Management Centre declared a national disaster on Sunday as heavy rains and flooding continued to batter northern parts of the country.
According to local media reports, continuous rainfall since late December has caused severe flooding in Limpopo Province, where at least 17 people, including two children, have died. Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa said in a statement on Sunday that 20 people had been killed in flood-related incidents in Mpumalanga Province.
More than 1,600 homes and 31 schools have been affected in Limpopo, while over 1,000 homes in Mpumalanga have suffered varying degrees of damage. The flooding has also forced the partial closure of Kruger National Park, one of Africa's largest wildlife reserves, with more than 600 visitors evacuated after rising waters inundated access roads and campsites.
The South African National Defence Force has deployed two helicopters to assist with rescue operations and evacuate residents stranded in hard-hit areas.
S Africa declares national disaster as flooding batters northern region
