BEIJING: At least 20 people have been killed, and 19 others reported missing as heavy rains and flooding wreaked havoc in Beijing and surrounding provinces in China. The floods have submerged roads and neighborhoods in mud, leading to a widespread disaster in the affected areas.
Storm Doksuri, formerly a super typhoon, struck southern Fujian province before sweeping northwards over China after battering the Philippines. The torrential downpours commenced on Saturday, and within just 40 hours, nearly the average rainfall for the entire month of July was dumped on Beijing.
Swaths of suburban Beijing are among the hardest hit, with muddy debris scattered across the roads in areas like the banks of the Mentougou river. The situation has resulted in significant loss of life and damage to property, with some areas experiencing the heaviest rainfall in years.
Authorities have responded by evacuating more than 100,000 people deemed at risk across Beijing. In neighboring Hebei province, nine people have been killed, and six others remain missing. Northeastern Liaoning province has also reported two casualties over the weekend.
China’s President Orders Urgent Rescue Efforts
President Xi Jinping has called for urgent rescue efforts for those lost or trapped due to the relentless rains. Emergency relief work has been initiated, with the allocation of 110 million yuan ($15.4 million) for disaster management in the capital and surrounding regions.
The scale of the flooding has caused chaos in affected areas, with roads inundated and vehicles submerged in floodwaters. Social media videos have captured the chaotic scenes, with cars being swept away along fast-flowing streams, collapsed bridges, and submerged neighborhoods.
China has been grappling with extreme weather conditions this summer, with record temperatures and a series of storms. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating these weather events, increasing the frequency and intensity of such disasters.
In addition to the ongoing heavy rains and flooding, China is also preparing for the arrival of typhoon Khanun, the sixth such storm of the year, as it approaches the country’s east coast. As the situation remains critical, authorities are working tirelessly to rescue those affected and mitigate the damage caused by the floods and rains.
