Torrential rainfall has triggered severe flooding and landslides in and around Beijing, China, resulting in widespread devastation. Cars have been swept away, residents have been evacuated, and power outages are affecting numerous areas. Tragically, at least 38 people have lost their lives due to the extreme weather.
Authorities have warned that the flood risk remains elevated for parts of Beijing, Hebei province, and the adjacent city of Tianjin until Tuesday evening.
State media has aired footage depicting floodwaters inundating homes in rural areas. Rescue teams are shown carrying injured individuals on stretchers and navigating damaged roads in search and rescue operations.
Premier Li Qiang acknowledged the “serious casualties” caused by the heavy rain and flooding in Miyun, a district heavily affected within Beijing. He emphasized the urgency of rescue efforts, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The storm has disrupted power supply to over 130 villages in Beijing, severed communication lines, and caused damage to more than 30 road sections.
Beijing experienced an average rainfall of over 16cm (6in) by midnight, with two towns in Miyun reporting an astonishing 54cm (21in), according to city officials.
Miyun, a district bordering Hebei’s Luanping county, has seen cars swept away and power poles toppled by the severe flooding. Over 80,000 people have been evacuated in Beijing, including approximately 17,000 from Miyun, according to a statement from the Beijing city government.
The city government reported that 28 fatalities occurred in Miyun and two in Yanqing district on Monday.
State broadcaster CCTV announced on Tuesday that four additional bodies were discovered in neighboring Hebei province. This follows reports that eight people were missing after a landslide in a rural area of Luanping county in Hebei. Authorities had recovered four bodies on Monday.
Emergency rescue teams reported further landslides in the same region on Tuesday, although no additional casualties have been reported at this time.
Uprooted trees are piled up in Taishitun, a town situated approximately 60 miles northeast of central Beijing. Streets are submerged in water, with mud residue marking the walls of buildings.
