Northern China, including the capital Beijing, has been grappling with severe flooding for the fourth consecutive day, resulting in widespread devastation and the loss of at least 20 lives. The continuous heavy rain has been caused by the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri, leading to massive flooding in the region.
The authorities have launched significant rescue and relief efforts to tackle the calamity. In Beijing alone, 11 people lost their lives during the rainstorms, including two heroic rescuers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Among the worst affected districts were Mentougou and Fangshan, which reported four and two fatalities, respectively. Additionally, Changping district had four casualties, while Haidian district reported one.
Hebei province, neighboring Beijing, was also heavily impacted, with nine deaths confirmed from the downpours. Baoding city reported four fatalities, while Xingtai city reported five. As of now, 19 people remain missing in both Beijing and Hebei.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts in search and rescue operations for those missing or trapped by floods and geological disasters. He emphasized the need to ensure medical treatment for the injured and support for the families of the deceased while prioritizing the safety of lives, properties, and social stability.
In response to the ongoing disaster, China has allocated 110 million yuan ($15.43 million) to support flood prevention and disaster relief work in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. The funds will be used to support emergency rescue and relief for those affected by the floods.
Beijing is experiencing record-breaking rainfall, with certain areas receiving more than 700 mm of precipitation, exceeding levels observed in the past. The situation has led to the evacuation of thousands of people and the deployment of rescue teams, including the People’s Liberation Army helicopters.
Despite putting contingency plans in place before the storm, the prolonged and heavy rain surpassed expectations, causing the soil in mountainous areas to become saturated and resulting in flash floods and mudslides. Timely forecasts and warnings issued by authorities helped prevent further casualties, although the economic losses are still being assessed.
Weather forecasts indicate that the rainfall will significantly weaken in the affected regions, but some areas may still experience moderate to heavy precipitation. The authorities are continuing their efforts to minimize the impact of flooding through coordinated flood control measures and rescue operations.