Heavy rainfall in Beijing kills 30, forces mass evacuations

Heavy rainfall has led to at least 30 fatalities in Beijing and caused power outages in several villages, as eastern and central China continue to face severe weather conditions. President Xi Jinping has urged authorities to prioritise the safety of residents amid the escalating situation.

Over 80,000 people have been relocated in Beijing alone due to flooding and landslides. President Xi described the rainfall as causing “major casualties and property losses” across northern China, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

China’s meteorological authorities have issued forecasts warning of continued heavy rain over the next three days, affecting Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province, eastern Fujian, and Shanghai. The China Meteorological Administration has predicted downpours reaching up to 270 millimetres (11 inches) in some areas. The severe weather is partly influenced by a tropical storm that recently struck the Philippines and is now moving toward eastern China.

Premier Li Qiang acknowledged the heavy rain and flooding in Beijing’s Miyun District — a suburban, mountainous area approximately two hours from downtown — which has resulted in significant casualties. He called for intensified efforts to locate and rescue those missing. The city’s Emergency Management Bureau raised the rainstorm warning to a red alert at noon on July 28, the highest level in its four-tier system.

The intense downpours began over the weekend, forcing the closure of major tourist attractions and the suspension of public transportation services. On July 27, more than 3,000 residents were evacuated from Miyun District as flooding threatened homes and infrastructure.

By Vugar Khalilov