Torrential rain causes extensive damage in China, leaving 38 dead and halting train services.
Heavy rains and strong winds from Typhoon Co-May have triggered a Level-IV emergency response in Beijing, Hebei, and Tianjin, as the region faces significant flooding risks. The emergency response was activated on July 28-29, 2025, due to the approaching typhoon, which reached wind force grade-8 and is forecasted to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the affected northeastern regions.
The Ministry of Emergency Management, alongside the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, has coordinated flood control measures and deployed work teams to assist with relief efforts in the impacted areas. The National Meteorological Center issued a blue alert for typhoons, warning of ongoing strong winds and rainstorms from Monday through Tuesday.
In Hebei province, a landslide triggered by the heavy rain resulted in the deaths of eight people, with four others still missing. In Jizhou District, Tianjin Municipality, floodwaters entered 13 villages along the Juhe River, and more than 10,500 people have been evacuated. The downpours have also disrupted rail services, temporarily suspending some trains on the Beijing-Harbin high-speed railway and causing multiple trains on a railway linking Beijing with Baotou to be suspended or rerouted.
In Beijing, at least 30 people have lost their lives due to the rainstorm, and over 12,800 people have been relocated in Pinggu District. The rainstorm alert in Beijing was cancelled on Tuesday. Du Hanyong, the principal of a middle school serving as a temporary shelter in Jizhou, confirmed that the facility is stocked with food, water, and essentials, and the cafeteria is ready to operate if needed.
To mitigate damage and support affected populations, 40 emergency shelters have been set up in gyms, schools, hotels, and village offices in Pinggu District, Beijing. A 63-year-old evacuee named Wei described the floodwaters sweeping past their doorstep and carrying away their tricycle.
In response to the flooding, all 19 major tourist sites in Mentougou District, Beijing, have been closed. Shower is still forecast for Beijing's afternoon and evening. As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, 15,195 people had been evacuated in Mentougou District, Beijing.
This latest emergency is part of a broader pattern of heavy rainfall and flooding affecting multiple regions in China throughout July 2025, although southwestern China was more affected earlier in the month. The government is working tirelessly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its citizens during this challenging time.
The National Meteorological Center continues to warn of ongoing weather-forecasted rainstorms and strong winds, with a blue alert for typhoons still in effect from Monday through Tuesday. To support affected residents, the Ministry of Emergency Management, alongside the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, has coordinated weather-forecasting measures and deployed work teams to assist with relief efforts in the impacted areas.
