BEIJING: As the lingering remnants of a typhoon drifted towards northeast China, Heilongjiang province issued warnings of swelling rivers, severe weather, and potential tornadoes.
The storms have heavily impacted cities, including the already waterlogged provincial capital, Harbin.
Heilongjiang, a significant grain-producing region, became the latest area to be affected by Typhoon Doksuri, which has already caused casualties, displaced thousands, and tested China’s disaster-response systems. The typhoon had made landfall in the southern part of the country a week earlier, swamping Beijing and nearby cities.
On Friday, Heilongjiang was forecasted to experience strong convective weather, including short-term heavy precipitation, thunderstorms, and strong winds. Additionally, localized torrential downpours were expected in the northern region of Qiqihar. Western Jixi and southern Mudanjiang were warned of heavy rains, while the northern part of the Hei River, northern Suihua, southern Harbin, the Qitai River, and eastern Jixi could expect moderate rainfall.
As the continuous rain persisted, some townships in Heilongjiang were at risk of experiencing cumulative rainfall exceeding 10 centimetres within hours. The province also warned of “very high” risks of secondary disasters such as mountain torrents, urban and rural waterlogging, and farmland waterlogging.
The situation was compounded by the flooding of small and medium-sized rivers in the southern and western areas due to earlier rains, and there were concerns that they could remain flooded. The Yalu River, which straddles Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia, was reported to be at risk of rising above warning levels by Friday night.
Apart from Heilongjiang, other parts of northeast China, including Inner Mongolia, portions of Jilin province, and central and eastern areas of Liaoning province, were also expected to experience heavy rainfall, according to China’s national forecaster.
Heilongjiang, known for being home to China’s oldest and largest oilfield in Daqing, was bracing for the impact of the severe weather brought by the residual rain from Typhoon Doksuri. Authorities were closely monitoring the situation and preparing response measures to minimize the potential damage and protect residents in the affected areas. The situation posed significant challenges, especially given the region’s importance in agriculture and the potential risks to critical infrastructure.
As the country faced these weather-related challenges, the government and disaster-response agencies were working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens, while also assessing the overall impact of Typhoon Doksuri on China’s various regions.
