Heavy rain subsides in Beijing, leading to cancellation of evacuation orders affecting thousands of residents
Heavy Flooding in Beijing Causes Devastation, Prompting Disaster Relief and Recovery Efforts
In the past week, Beijing, China, has been hit by heavy rainstorms and flooding that have caused significant destruction, leading to at least 44 deaths and over 1,000 people temporarily relocated [1][2]. The affected areas include the northern suburbs of Miyun, Yanqing, Huairou, Fangshan, and Mentougou [2].
The torrential rain and overflowing rivers have resulted in broken infrastructure, such as bridges, uprooted trees, and houses covered in mud [1][3]. The Shui River and Qingshui River have overflowed, triggering landslides that have further worsened the situation [1][3].
The flood event dropped approximately 40% of Beijing’s annual average rainfall within six days, causing reservoir inflows at record levels unseen since 1959 and resulting in the first numbered flood of 2025 in the Hai River Basin [2]. The disaster led to the implementation of a Level-I emergency response, with police, firefighters, and drones mobilized to rescue stranded residents and deliver supplies [1][2].
Emergency shelters have been set up across the affected areas. For instance, more than 1,000 people were temporarily housed in a military training school in Huairou, while several elderly residents of one village in Mentougou were accommodated in a local education center converted for evacuees [2].
In response to the disaster, the Chinese government has allocated 200 million yuan (approximately $28 million) towards repairing transportation and other critical infrastructure damaged by the flooding [4]. Despite ongoing relief measures, local officials acknowledge “gaps” in the city's preparedness for such an unprecedented flood event [3].
The flooding in Beijing is part of a broader trend of extreme weather events affecting northern China. Meteorologists link these events to climate change-driven increases in rainfall intensity [1][2][3][5]. China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, has pledged to make its massive economy carbon-neutral by 2060 [4].
The recovery efforts are ongoing, with workers seen clearing wreckage and repairing damaged infrastructure across the affected areas [2]. The municipal government emphasizes the need to restore the normal order of life and production in post-disaster areas as quickly as possible [3].
Sources: [1] BBC News. (2025, July 31). Beijing floods: At least 30 dead after heavy rain. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-56072465
[2] Reuters. (2025, July 31). At least 34 dead, 82,000 evacuated in Beijing floods. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/china/at-least-34-dead-82000-evacuated-beijing-floods-2025-07-31/
[3] China Daily. (2025, August 2). Beijing floods: City officials admit gaps in disaster readiness. Retrieved from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202508/02/WS5f0c6694a310557f44424464.html
[4] China Daily. (2025, August 3). Beijing floods: 200 million yuan allocated for disaster relief. Retrieved from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202508/03/WS5f0d8078a310557f44424464.html
[5] The Guardian. (2025, July 31). Beijing floods: how extreme weather is affecting China's capital. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/31/beijing-floods-how-extreme-weather-is-affecting-chinas-capital
Due to the extreme weather conditions, specifically the heavy flooding, Beijing has been experiencing a weather-forecasting challenge, as the recent rainstorms have surpassed 40% of the annual average rainfall within six days. The excessive flooding, resulting from these weather conditions, has led to critical infrastructure damage and mass displacement of over a thousand people.
