BEIJING – At least 30 people have been confirmed dead after days of torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding and landslides across China's capital, Beijing, and the surrounding Hebei province. State media reported Tuesday that more than 80,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes as rescue efforts continue amid the region's most extreme weather event in years.
The crisis was precipitated by a prolonged period of exceptionally heavy downpours, with some areas recording precipitation levels that have broken historical records. The relentless rain overwhelmed urban drainage systems, swelled rivers to dangerous levels, and saturated the soil in the mountainous western districts of the city, leading to devastating flash floods and mudslides.
Dramatic footage circulating on Chinese social media and broadcast by state television showed entire neighborhoods submerged in muddy water, cars swept away by powerful currents, and emergency crews using inflatable boats to navigate flooded streets and rescue stranded residents.
The western districts of Mentougou and Fangshan have been identified as the hardest-hit areas. Rescue operations have been severely hampered by washed-out roads and collapsed bridges, which have cut off access to numerous villages, leaving them isolated. Tens of thousands of rescue workers, including soldiers from the People's Liberation Army, have been deployed to the region to conduct search and rescue operations, repair infrastructure, and deliver essential supplies to those trapped.
Authorities have issued the highest levels of weather alerts and have mobilized a massive emergency response. The focus remains on searching for the missing and ensuring the safety of the tens of thousands who have been relocated to temporary shelters in schools and other public buildings.
The deadly floods in the nation's capital have highlighted the vulnerability of even major metropolitan areas to extreme weather events, which scientists say are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. The Chinese government is now facing the immense task of not only managing the immediate disaster but also addressing the long-term challenges of urban resilience and climate adaptation.
