Heavy rain and flooding have killed more than 30 people in Beijing and the neighbouring Hebei province. As a result, authorities evacuated over 80,000 residents from dangerous areas.

Majority of Deaths in Beijing’s Outskirts

According to state media, 28 people died in Miyun district. Additionally, two others lost their lives in Yanqing district. Both areas are on the outer edge of Beijing, far from the city center.

Meanwhile, a landslide hit Hebei province on Monday. It killed four people and left eight others missing.

Rainfall Hits Record Levels

The rain began over the weekend and grew heavier on Monday. According to Xinhua, some parts of northern Beijing received up to 543.4 mm of rainfall.

Due to the rising water, officials moved 80,322 people to safer locations. Floodwaters damaged roads and cut off communication lines. By midnight Monday, 136 villages had lost electricity.

Xi Jinping Orders Rescue Operations

Late Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out” rescue efforts. He instructed local authorities to take every step to reduce the number of casualties.

Authorities Raise Red Alert

In response, Beijing issued its highest-level rain and flood alerts. Officials advised people to stay indoors. They also shut down schools, halted construction, and suspended all outdoor activities, including tourism.

Reservoir Water Released to Prevent Overflow

In Miyun, officials released water from a nearly full reservoir. The water level was the highest since the reservoir’s construction in 1959. Consequently, authorities warned people to avoid rivers downstream, as more rain was expected.

Floods Cause Widespread Damage

Heavy flooding washed away cars and toppled power poles in Miyun. In the town of Taishitun, about 100 km from central Beijing, the scene was devastating. Uprooted trees lay in piles. Streets were flooded. Mud covered walls up to several feet high.

Zhuang Zhelin, who owns a building materials shop, said, “The flood came rushing in, just like that, so fast and suddenly. In no time at all, the place was filling up.” He and his family were seen clearing thick mud from their shop.

Government Sends Emergency Aid

In addition, the central government sent 50 million yuan (about $7 million) to Hebei. It also deployed top-level emergency teams to assist local responders. Officials warned that the heaviest rain could come early Tuesday. Some areas may receive up to 30 cm of rainfall.

Climate Change Fuels Extreme Weather

Finally, experts blame climate change for the increasing frequency of such disasters. Human-caused global warming is intensifying extreme weather. At least a dozen recent deadly events would have been nearly impossible without climate change.