Heavy rain prompts evacuation of thousands in Beijing, but the alert has now been called off.
Over 80,000 Evacuated in Beijing Amid Heavy Flooding
Heavy floods hit Beijing, China, on Monday, leading to the evacuation of over 80,000 people from various districts across the city. The municipal government emphasized the need to quickly restore normal life and production in post-disaster areas [1][2][3].
The flood-hit areas were primarily located in Beijing's northern and western suburbs, including Miyun District, Fangshan District, Mentougou District, and Huairou District [2][3]. The hardest hit area was Miyun District, where a town called Taishitun saw the highest death toll—31 fatalities occurred at an elderly care center near the Qingshui River [2][3].
The flooding was caused by record rainfall—over 315 mm of rain within less than 12 hours in some parts of Beijing, the highest in decades. The rain triggered flash floods and landslides, damaging infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and communication systems [1][4].
Authorities issued the highest-level flood warning (red alert) and conducted door-to-door evacuations, moving people to temporary shelters on higher ground to keep them safe [1][4]. The heavy rains caused the Buune reservoir to release water for the first time in over 60 years, intensifying the flooding risk [1].
In Miyun, where dozens died last week, most of the recent floodwater had receded on Tuesday. However, a trail of debris including tree branches, piles of bricks, dented cars, toppled tractors, strollers, and luggage were left behind [4].
China's public security ministry warned against spreading rumors, including exaggerating natural disasters. The weather office lifted the alert early Tuesday morning [1]. Despite the evacuation efforts, at least 44 people died and nine are missing due to floods in Beijing's northern suburbs last week [1].
Natural disasters are common in China, particularly during the summer. The municipal weather office had imposed a red rainstorm warning on Monday, the highest in a four-tier system [1]. China aims to make its massive economy carbon-neutral by 2060, with the government acknowledging that the country's status as the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases contributes to extreme weather events [1].
A local official, Yu Weiguo, the district's ruling Communist Party boss in Miyun, admitted gaps in disaster readiness [5]. The authorities are working to address these gaps and ensure the safety of the citizens in the future.
References:
- BBC News
- Reuters
- CNN
- The Guardian
- South China Morning Post
- The news of heavy flooding in Beijing underscores the importance of addressing climate-change issues, as China strives to make its economy carbon-neutral by 2060.
- Weather-forecasting agencies need to stay vigilant in monitoring environmental-science data, like rainfall patterns, to prevent such disasters in the future, especially during the summer months.
- The world should pay attention to the news coming from China, as the impacts of extreme weather events, such as the Beijing floods, could have global implications for the world's economy and population.
- Art depicting the aftermath of the Beijing floods might focus on highlighting the risks of ignoring environmental issues, thus raising awareness about the importance of taking care of our planet and its resources.
- East Asian countries, like China, need to invest more in weather-forecasting technologies to anticipate heavy rainfall and floods, minimizing the loss of life and infrastructure damages in vulnerable areas.
