In brief
At least 30 people have died and over 80,000 evacuated due to heavy floods in Beijing, exacerbating a summer of severe weather in China. President Xi Jinping has urged urgent rescue efforts as infrastructure crumbles under the deluge.
At least 30 individuals have tragically lost their lives in Beijing as relentless rains have prompted severe flooding across northern China. Authorities reported that more than 80,000 residents have been evacuated from affected areas amid the chaos. In addition to the fatalities in the capital, eight others died from a landslide in Chengde, located roughly three hours northeast of Beijing.This disastrous flooding is part of a larger pattern of extreme weather hitting China this summer, with record heatwaves affecting the eastern regions earlier in the month and heavy rains inundating the southwest. In response to the disaster, President Xi Jinping has called for an "all-out" approach to rescue operations, emphasizing the need to prepare for "worst-case and extreme scenarios.""No effort should be spared to search for and rescue those missing or trapped, to transfer and resettle residents in affected areas, and to reduce casualties to the greatest extent possible," he declared on Monday. The Chinese government has allocated approximately 200 million yuan ($28 million; £21 million) for recovery initiatives, which include restoration of critical transportation networks and other infrastructure.Areas on the outskirts of Beijing, particularly the suburban districts of Miyun and Huairou, have been profoundly impacted by the torrential rainfall. The flooding has caused significant damage to numerous roads and disrupted power supply to over 130 villages. Footage depicts rescue workers navigating through chest-deep waters and aerial support with helicopters and drones providing food and essential supplies to those stranded.Residents in the flooded regions have shared alarming accounts of the rapid onset of the disaster. "The flood came rushing in, just like that, so fast and suddenly," said Zhuang Zhelin, a local shop-owner in Taishitun town, who witnessed the frightening escalation of the situation. Meanwhile, Ms. Yang, a resident of Hebei province, expressed concern for her family living in one of the hardest-hit districts, having lost contact since Sunday. Amid her fears for their safety, she turned to social media to seek assistance for their rescue.Beijing has a history of flooding, especially during the summer months. A significant incident occurred in July 2012 when heavy rains claimed 79 lives. This year has seen flooding wreak havoc across various parts of China. Earlier this month, Typhoon Wipha resulted in the deaths of two people and 10 reported missing in Shandong province. Additionally, a landslide in Ya'an city, southwestern China, claimed three lives weeks prior.Climate change is often cited by experts as a contributing factor to the increasingly erratic weather events faced by China, posing ongoing risks to residents and the economy, particularly impacting the country's agricultural sector. According to the emergency management ministry, natural disasters have incurred costs exceeding 54.11 billion yuan ($7.5 billion; £5.7 billion) in just the first half of the year, with floods comprising over 90% of these economic losses.
