BEIJING: Torrential rains in Beijing have killed at least 30 people and forced the evacuation of more than 80,000 residents, as a week’s worth of downpour equaled the city’s average annual rainfall. Floodwaters damaged roads, cut off power and communication lines in over 130 villages, and left hundreds of flights and train services delayed or suspended.
Most fatalities occurred in Miyun district, where collapsed bridges, submerged shops, and ruined farmlands painted a grim picture. Residents described the floods as sudden and overwhelming, with water levels rising up to 1.5 meters in hours.
Authorities reported Miyun recorded 573.5 mm of rainfall nearly the yearly average while nearby Huairou saw 95 mm fall in a single hour. Experts warned the region’s mountainous terrain trapped moist air, worsening the deluge.
The heavy rains also battered Hebei and Tianjin, where landslides killed eight and left several missing. State media described the disaster relief situation as “complex and severe,” while desperate residents turned to social media for rescue pleas.
Climate experts linked the intensifying rainstorms in northern China to global warming, noting similar deadly floods in 2023.
