Intense rainfall leaves a devastating 53 fatalities in Beijing and neighboring provinces in China
In recent weeks, northern China has been hit by a series of devastating floods and landslides, resulting in at least 80 deaths and around 18 people missing. The hardest-hit areas have been the Miyun district in Beijing and Hebei province.
The Miyun district, a suburban area northeast of Beijing, has suffered the highest death toll with around 45 people perishing, including 31 elderly residents in a flooded nursing home. The disaster occurred in an area previously considered low-risk, complicating evacuation plans. Over 17,000 people were evacuated from the district, and many more were moved to emergency shelters such as schools and community centres.
Hebei province also saw significant damage, with at least four deaths and eight people missing due to landslides in Luanping county. Rescue operations are ongoing, but no recent increase in fatalities has been reported.
Across the region, over 80,000 people were evacuated from their homes due to the floods and landslides. Neighboring Hebei province also saw devastation, with eight people dead and 18 missing in Chengde city.
The storms have caused extensive infrastructure damage, with power outages in 130 villages in the Miyun district alone. Homes and roads have been destroyed, and critical infrastructure has been damaged. State broadcaster CCTV reported widespread power outages, collapsed roads, and damage to critical infrastructure.
The deluge has caused 41 rivers across the country to overflow, raising concerns about long-term vulnerability in densely populated regions. The meteorological authorities have warned that more heavy rainfall is expected in the coming days.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to protect lives and property. The Xinhua news agency reported these developments, and scientists have linked the intensifying rainfall in China's typically arid north to climate change and the East Asian monsoon.
Typhoon Co-May passed over Shanghai on July 30, 2025, but the floods and landslides in northern China are not believed to be directly related to the typhoon.
This data reflects information up to mid-August 2025, combining official statements and media reports. Rescue efforts continue with concern over ongoing landslide risks in Hebei.
- The weather-forecasting authorities have warned of more heavy rainfall in the coming days, raising concerns about potential flooding and landslides in northern China.
- Amidst the disaster, the news of President Xi Jinping's call for all-out efforts to protect lives and property has provided some semblance of hope for the affected regions.
- In addition to the loss of life and property, the floods and landslides have also disrupted local businesses, causing significant economic losses.
- History may remember this period as a turning point in the study of climate change and its effects on weather patterns, as scientists have linked the intensifying rainfall in China's traditionally arid north to this phenomenon.
