BEIJING: At least 10 people were reported dead in the devastating floods that have struck a city in Hebei province, northern China, due to the unrelenting rains caused by the former super typhoon, Doksuri. The storm, which made landfall last Friday, has brought the heaviest rains in 140 years of recorded history, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Baoding, one of the worst-hit cities in Hebei province, approximately 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Beijing, saw the loss of 10 lives, according to officials’ announcement on Saturday. The heavy rainfall forced the evacuation of over 600,000 of Baoding’s 1.5 million residents from high-risk areas. Tragically, 18 people are still missing.
The torrential downpour did not spare northeastern China, with provinces bordering Russia and North Korea facing similar challenges. A red alert remains in effect for Beijing, warning of geological risks like landslides, due to the ongoing adverse weather conditions.
Devastating Rains Cause Havoc in Beijing
As the floodwaters recede, extensive clean-up operations are underway, with infrastructure destroyed and entire districts submerged. The devastating rainfall has also caused havoc in the country’s capital, where records for the heaviest rains were shattered last month, resulting in 147 deaths or disappearances.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management reported that July’s fatalities were predominantly caused by flooding or geological disasters. The toll highlights the devastating impact of extreme weather events and raises concerns about the growing threat of climate change.
Ma Jun, the director of the Beijing-based NGO, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, emphasized the link between the typhoon and rising ocean temperatures caused by climate change. He noted that China has experienced unprecedented extreme heatwaves, with record-breaking high temperatures in the northern regions, a phenomenon that aligns with climate scientists’ warnings worldwide.
As millions of people globally continue to suffer from extreme weather events and prolonged heatwaves, experts underline the urgent need for climate action to mitigate the worsening impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.
