Deadly Floods Strike Beijing, Tens of Thousands Evacuated

Heavy rainfall has caused severe floods in Beijing and surrounding regions, claiming over 30 lives and forcing the evacuation of 80,000 residents from China’s capital.

Beginning over the weekend and intensifying on Monday, parts of Beijing’s northern districts recorded an astonishing 543.4mm of rain. The hard-hit Miyun district reported 28 fatalities, with an additional two deaths in Yanqing district. A landslide in neighboring Hebei province tragically killed four people, and eight remain missing.

The deluge has caused widespread damage, including ruined roads, disrupted communication infrastructure, and power outages in 136 villages. Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered “all-out” search and rescue efforts to minimize casualties. Authorities issued the highest-level rain and flood alerts, advising residents to stay indoors and releasing water from the Miyun reservoir, which reached its highest level since 1959.

This event follows extreme floods in 2023 that also caused significant casualties and displacement in Beijing and Hebei. Scientists highlight that human-caused climate change is intensifying extreme weather events globally, leading to more frequent and deadly disasters like these floods.