Highlights
- Heaviest rainfall and floods in Beijing killed at least 11 people and 27 missing.
- Over 127,000 people evacuated as two days of rain overwhelm riverbeds in the city.
- Mentougou district experiences an average of over 18 inches of rainfall, causing the majority of fatalities.
- Climate change exacerbates the impact of annual rains in China.
- Rescue efforts underway as residents and vehicles swept away by raging torrents.
Heaviest Rainfall
The Chinese capital, Beijing, faced the heaviest rainfall in a decade as the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri brought devastating floods and landslides. Over the past two days, the city experienced torrential rains that turned calm waterways into ferocious torrents, sweeping away cars and destroying roads. At least 11 people have lost their lives, and 27 others remain missing, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The sprawling metropolis, home to nearly 22 million people, witnessed an entire month’s worth of rainfall in just 48 hours, averaging 175.7 millimeters (nearly 7 inches), as reported by CNN Weather. However, the situation was far worse in the western districts, where most fatalities occurred. In Mentougou district, the average rainfall exceeded 18 inches, causing significant damage and disruptions.
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Videos shared on state television and social media showed the impact of the downpour, with road bridges broken in half, cars swept away in rivers, and sinkholes opening up in public spaces. Floodwaters gushed into homes, and rescue workers were seen wading through waist-deep water to assist residents in affected areas.
The extreme weather has raised concerns about climate change, which experts warn has intensified the frequency and destruction of annual rains in China. Authorities have already evacuated more than 127,000 people from Beijing, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping has ordered search and rescue efforts to be intensified.
Doksuri is one of the strongest typhoons to hit China in recent years, making landfall in the southeastern coastal province of Fujian before weakening to a storm. The typhoon has affected over 2.6 million people in Fujian alone, and the heavy rainfall continued as it moved northward.
In Hebei province, neighboring Beijing, more than 300 people were stranded in a residential building due to flooding. Nine people were reported dead, and six remain missing in the area. Additionally, hundreds of train passengers were stranded in the outskirts of Beijing, with some stuck for 30 hours without food or supplies.
As authorities contend with the aftermath of Doksuri, they are also preparing for incoming Typhoon Khanun, the sixth projected typhoon to hit China this year. The forecast suggests that storm tides will impact coastal areas of eastern Zhejiang province until Thursday.
The situation in Beijing and surrounding areas remains critical as rescue and relief efforts continue to address the devastating impact of the heaviest rainfall in a decade.