Severe Flooding in Beijing Kills at Least 34 People
Heavy rains have caused devastating floods in and around Beijing, leading to the deaths of at least 34 people. The majority of fatalities occurred in the city's outlying Miyun and Yanqing districts. Authorities have relocated over 80,000 residents as a precautionary measure and released water from a reservoir that reached its highest level since 1959. The severe weather has washed away cars, downed power lines, and prompted a top-level emergency response, with residents urged to stay indoors.
Unpacked:
This flood is highly unusual for Beijing; the reservoir reached its highest level since 1959, indicating that such severe flooding has not occurred in over six decades. This highlights the exceptional nature of the rainfall and its impacts.
Besides Beijing, the provinces of Hebei, Jilin, and Shandong have also faced severe flooding, with landslides and widespread damage reported. Rivers in these provinces surpassed flood warning levels, and deadly landslides occurred in neighboring Hebei.
Authorities have relocated over 80,000 residents, released water from swollen reservoirs, issued the highest flood and rain alerts, and deployed emergency response teams. President Xi Jinping called for urgent rescue efforts to prioritize saving lives and minimizing property losses.
The floods have washed away cars and homes, damaged roads, cut power to at least 136 villages, and forced mass evacuations. Many residents face displacement, loss of property, and disruption of essential services, with recovery likely to be a prolonged process.