Beijing floods claim 33 lives, 18 still missing amidst record rainfall

Record-breaking rainfall in Beijing has resulted in devastating floods, leaving 33 dead and 18 missing, according to official reports on Wednesday. The unyielding downpours, a rare occurrence in the Chinese capital, have wreaked havoc, damaging infrastructure and severely affecting both urban areas and farmlands.

The death toll reported on Wednesday is threefold the figure announced by the authorities the previous Tuesday. In expressing his condolences, Beijing’s Vice-Mayor Xia Linmao stated, “I would like to express my deep condolences to those who died in the line of duty and the unfortunate victims,” as relayed by state broadcaster CCTV.

Surrounding regions also reported alarming figures. Neighboring Hebei province reported 15 fatalities, with 22 people still unaccounted for. Meanwhile, Jilin in the northeast witnessed 14 deaths and one missing person as of Sunday. Reports from Heilongjiang, further north, indicate that several rivers have surged beyond warning levels due to the incessant rainfall.

Floods in Beijing claim 33 lives, 18 still missing amidst record rainfall. Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay.

Recounting the terrifying experience, Zheng Xiaokang, a police officer from Jiangxi village in the province, said to Xinhua News Agency, “I still feel scared when I recall the recent flooding. Timely evacuations of villagers were critical in avoiding catastrophic outcomes.”

Adding to the distressing news, flash floods in Sichuan province in southwestern China led to the tragic deaths of seven individuals, reportedly tourists caught unawares while photographing at a popular site.

A broader perspective reveals that, as of last week, China recorded a staggering 147 deaths or disappearances attributed to natural calamities in July alone. Of these incidents, 142 resulted from flooding or geological-related disasters, with the remainder arising from other natural events such as droughts.

In response to the destruction caused by storm Doksuri, China’s Ministry of Emergency Management confirmed that restoration efforts will intensify in the hardest-hit northern and northeastern regions. With an objective to restore normalcy by winter, Beijing is committed to rebuilding houses that fell victim to the floods. Furthermore, these calamitous floods prompted over 1.5 million evacuations, particularly in the Hebei province and surrounding territories.

To expedite recovery, China’s Cabinet, led by Premier Li Qiang, has announced plans to swiftly restore power and telecommunication connections severed by the floods, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.