Beijing lifted its highest-level rainstorm alert on Tuesday after torrential downpours triggered deadly flooding across the city’s northern suburbs, killing at least 44 people and leaving nine still missing, according to official figures.
Over 82,000 residents were evacuated as authorities warned of lingering dangers from landslides and secondary disasters in the aftermath of the record-breaking rainfall.
The red alert, the most severe in China’s four-tier weather warning system, was imposed late Monday but was downgraded early Tuesday as the storm system moved eastward and weakened. However, authorities continued to caution residents in the capital’s outskirts to remain on high alert.
Hard-hit suburbs, overwhelmed facilities
Beijing’s northeastern district of Miyun, southwestern Fangshan, western Mentougou, and northern Huairou were among the worst affected by the floods. Miyun alone reported 31 fatalities, mostly from an elderly care center that was overwhelmed by rising waters.
Yu Weiguo, the local Communist Party chief in Miyun, admitted gaps in disaster preparedness.
“Our knowledge of extreme weather was lacking. This tragic lesson reminds us that putting people first is not just a slogan,” he said during a local meeting.
Residents told AFP that the floods struck rapidly, inundating homes and sweeping through entire villages with little warning.
Restoration underway, vigilance urged
The Beijing municipal government, in an emergency meeting on Monday, called for swift restoration of roads, power and water supplies, and the repair of hospitals, schools, and elderly care facilities in the affected zones.
“Restoring normal life and production in post-disaster areas is a top priority,” said officials in a statement posted to city social media channels.
China’s Ministry of Public Security also urged citizens to remain alert and warned against spreading exaggerated information or rumors about the disaster. State broadcaster CCTV reiterated calls for “public order” amid heightened sensitivities.
Extreme weather grips China
Heavy rainfall and flooding have hammered northern and southern China in recent weeks, including Hong Kong, which saw its highest-tier rain warning issued four times in just over a week.
Natural disasters are frequent in China’s summer months, with some areas experiencing extreme heat while others endure flooding. The country remains the world’s top emitter of greenhouse gases — a key contributor to global warming — but has pledged to become carbon-neutral by 2060.
