China Floods: 4 Dead, Thousands Evacuated
Heavy rains have drenched large parts of northern China, leading to the tragic deaths of four people and leaving eight others unaccounted for, according to state media reports on Monday.
The relentless downpours have prompted thousands to evacuate from the capital city and its surrounding areas. In response, authorities in Beijing have issued the second-highest warning for rainstorms and the highest alert for flooding, with forecasts indicating that the heavy rain will continue into Tuesday morning.
In Hebei province, which surrounds the capital, the intense rainfall triggered a landslide in a village close to Chengde, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
Tragically, four people have lost their lives, and eight others are still unaccounted for, according to reports. The national emergency management department has sent a team to assess the “severe” flooding in the province, where two additional fatalities occurred over the weekend.
In Fuping County alone, more than 4,600 residents were evacuated during the weekend. Meanwhile, in the neighboring Shanxi province, one person was rescued, but 13 remain missing following a bus accident, as reported by state media.
Video footage from the broadcaster captured scenes of roads and crop fields in the province completely submerged in fast-moving water on Sunday.
In Beijing, over 4,000 individuals in the suburban Miyun district were also evacuated due to the relentless torrential rains.
The reservoir in the area has just experienced its biggest inflow flood since it was constructed over sixty years ago, according to state media reports.
On Monday, in Mujiayu, a town located just south of the reservoir, AFP journalists witnessed the reservoir unleashing a powerful surge of water.
Muddy currents had swept away power lines, while military vehicles and ambulances navigated through the flooded streets.
A river had overflowed its banks, taking trees along with it, and fields of crops were left submerged.
Some roads suffered significant damage, with chunks of concrete exposed and twisted guardrails lining the sides.
The low-rise homes in the mountainous region, while mostly standing, found themselves surrounded by rushing floodwaters.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission has set aside 50 million yuan (about $7 million) to support relief efforts in Hebei. This funding will be directed towards emergency recovery and rebuilding infrastructure, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Natural disasters are a frequent occurrence in China, especially during the summer months when some areas are drenched in heavy rain while others endure scorching heatwaves.
As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China plays a significant role in climate change, which scientists say is leading to more frequent and severe extreme weather events.
However, China is also a leader in renewable energy and has set an ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality for its vast economy by 2060.
Recently, flash floods in Shandong province claimed the lives of two individuals and left ten others unaccounted for.
Additionally, a landslide on a highway in Sichuan province this month resulted in the tragic deaths of five people as it swept several vehicles down a mountainside.
China Floods: 4 Dead, Thousands Evacuated
