In a devastating natural disaster, heavy rains and flooding have wreaked havoc in northern China, resulting in the loss of lives and significant damage to property. Storm Doksuri, previously a super typhoon, made its way northwards after hitting southern Fujian province and the Philippines last Friday.
Tragic Loss of Lives and Extensive Flooding in Beijing
As the storm swept over Beijing, the capital city was severely impacted. At least two people lost their lives in the city’s Mentougou district, where emergency personnel recovered their bodies from waterways. The torrential rains washed away cars, and subway stations were inundated, leading the authorities to issue their highest alerts for flooding and landslides.
Residents Share Their Ordeal
Local residents recounted the terrifying scenes as water levels surged in rivers and roads turned into dangerous drains. Guo Zhenyu, a 49-year-old resident, described how the Mentougou river overflowed, flooding the entire avenue. Elsewhere, the Yongding River, much larger and still swollen, carried debris in its brown torrents, leaving residents in awe.
Chen Hong, a resident of the southern Fengtai district, shared footage showing a van partially submerged in fast-flowing brown water. In her neighborhood, residents had to clear mud outside their homes during brief respite from the relentless downpour. Old houses raised concerns about safety, given the continuous rain.
Beijing’s Struggles and Extreme Weather Conditions
The heavy rains paralyzed the capital’s transportation system, with hundreds of bus services suspended, and roads and thoroughfares turning into rapids. Social media platforms were flooded with images and videos of vehicles being swept away by muddy torrents.
These extreme weather events in China have been linked to climate change, as experts warn of the possibility of even worse flooding than the deadly 2012 floods, which caused numerous casualties and evacuations. The Beijing Meteorological Bureau recorded an astonishing 170.9 millimeters of rain in just 40 hours, almost equivalent to the average rainfall for an entire month of July.
