In a devastating turn of events, heavy rains and flooding have led to the tragic loss of at least 30 lives in Beijing and its neighbouring Hebei province. With recovery efforts currently underway, rescue teams are expediting their operations amid challenging conditions, allowing for a brief lull in the incessant downpours that have wreaked havoc across northern China.
Authorities have reported that over 80,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as relentless rain has resulted in power outages and blocked communication lines in approximately 130 villages, making rescue efforts a daunting challenge. Tragically, eight of the confirmed deaths occurred in Hebei province due to a landslide, exacerbating concerns regarding the safety of residents in low-lying and mountainous areas.Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed an “all-out” response from rescue teams while urging them to prepare for “worst-case and extreme scenarios.”
The government has allocated 200 million yuan (approximately $28 million or £21 million) towards recovery initiatives.As floodwaters began to recede, weather reports indicated that there would be a reprieve from rain in Beijing, providing some much-needed respite for rescue operations. Helicopters have been dispatched to deliver aid supplies, while ground teams are combing inundated areas for those still stranded. However, with further rainfall anticipated in the coming days, the overarching sense of uncertainty remains palpable among the affected residents.In Miyun district, one of the hardest-hit areas, local flood relief stations are currently housing hundreds of displaced individuals, many of whom are elderly residents.
At these temporary shelters, survivors are receiving basic medical care and food aid, yet concern looms over when they may return to their mountain homes, as many express their worry for family members who remain unaccounted for.Residents like a young girl from Liulimiao Town recounted harrowing tales of being separated from their loved ones, expressing desperation as they await rescuers.
“I’ve never seen rainfall like this in my life,” she recounted, her voice trembling.
“Once the rain stops, I hope they can reach us.” As experts note that climate change is contributing to increasingly severe weather patterns in China, the urgency for recovery efforts heightens as communities reassess their vulnerability to future disasters.
Meanwhile, some resident sites in Beijing have resumed operations as local tourist attractions, such as the Summer Palace and Beijing Zoo, reopen to the public after having briefly closed due to the bad weather.As the recovery process unfolds, there is a collective hope for safety, restoration, and a return to normalcy, amidst the ongoing threat of extreme weather punctuated by the continued challenges posed by recent national disasters – the cost of which have already reached a staggering 54.11 billion yuan ($7.5 billion) this year alone.
Additional reporting BBC News