Apocalyptic downpour! Typhoon Doksuri leaves China in total devastation

The relentless Typhoon Doksuri has unleashed untold havoc on northeastern China. The grim aftermath sees a mounting death toll and reports of missing people as nature’s fury continues to pummel the region with merciless rainfall.

China’s Grapple with Typhoon Doksuri’s Fury

As the skies wept incessantly over the city of Shulan in Jilin province, a life was tragically lost while five other souls were reported missing. This city has been subjected to an unending deluge for five relentless days, resulting in the evacuation of more than 14,300 people from its population of over 700,000.

State media captured the grim reality – homes and factories surrounded by waterlogged streets as the average precipitation in the city reached a staggering 111.7 mm by Friday afternoon.

China Struggles as Typhoon Doksuri Unleashes Floods and Chaos. Photo courtesy of Neenu Vimalkumar on Unsplash.

Nation on Edge: From Scorching Heat to Raging Rains

China is trapped in a climatic paradox of record-breaking rainfall in certain areas while others endure blistering summer heat and drought, menacing their crop fields. The wrath of Typhoon Doksuri has hammered northern China since late July, turning the lives of millions topsy-turvy.

Northeastern Heilongjiang province, hailed as China’s “great northern granary,” has been awash with floodwater, forcing a mass evacuation. The city of Shangzhi has been virtually transformed into an urban river, inundating thousands of homes.

Rivers Threaten to Overflow, Massive Evacuations Underway

National emergency management authorities were kept on their toes as 25 rivers across Heilongjiang threatened to burst their banks, prompting disaster relief groups to rush to the scene. Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang, had over 53,000 of its people evacuated as numerous reservoirs and rivers breached safety levels, causing significant damage to crops across 41,600 hectares.

Meanwhile, about 120 kilometers south of Harbin in the city of Yushu, Jilin province, flooding led to the mass evacuation of nearly 19,000 people.

Floods in Zhuozhou Recede, But Danger Lurks in Hebei

Saturday saw a ray of hope as floodwaters in Zhuozhou, southwest of Beijing, started to recede, allowing some of the 125,000 evacuated residents to return home. However, Hebei province around Beijing, having faced some of the region’s worst flooding in recent weeks, found itself under fresh rainstorm alerts.

In Baoding, a city of 11 million people, the death toll hit 10 with another 18 still missing. Floods decimated roads and bridges in the Yesanpo Scenic Area, a national park celebrated for its magnificent gorges and mountains, adding to the city’s woes.