ZHUZHOU, HEBEI – China’s capital, Beijing, has experienced the most intense rainfall in over 140 years, as the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri brought heavy rains to the city. The Beijing Meteorological Bureau reported that between Saturday and Wednesday morning, the city recorded a staggering 744.8 millimeters (29.3 inches) of rainfall.
The torrential rains have caused severe flooding in Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei, leading to dangerous water levels. The heavy rainfall has caused destruction, with roads being washed away, power outages, and drinking water pipes being damaged. Rivers surrounding the capital have overflowed, submerging cars and even lifting some vehicles onto pedestrian bridges. Among the hardest-hit areas is Zhuozhou, a small city in Hebei province, which borders Beijing’s southwest. On Tuesday night, local police issued a plea on social media for assistance in rescue operations.
The extent of the flooding has left many areas impassable, and the number of people trapped in flood-stricken regions, including surrounding villages, remains uncertain.
In Gu’an county, Hebei, adjacent to Zhuozhou, floodwaters reached alarmingly high levels, with waters climbing halfway up a surveillance camera pole.
The floods have prompted large-scale evacuations, with nearly 850,000 people relocated, according to local authorities in Hebei province.
As of Wednesday, the death toll from the torrential rains has reached 21, including a rescuer named Wang Hong-chun, whose body was recovered after she and her team’s rubber boat capsized in a fast-flowing river. Four of her teammates survived, while 26 people remain missing.
The previous record for rainfall in Beijing dates back to 1891 when the city received 609 millimeters (24 inches) of rain. The earliest recorded measurements made by machines date to 1883.
The record-breaking rainfall caused by Typhoon Doksuri may not be the last, as Typhoon Khanun, currently affecting Japan, is expected to head towards China later in the week. The powerful storm, with surface winds reaching up to 180 kph (111 mph), may also impact Taiwan before reaching China.
Thousands of people have been evacuated to shelters in schools and other public buildings in suburban Beijing and nearby cities. The central government is providing 44 million yuan ($6.1 million) for disaster relief in the affected provinces.
The severity of the flooding has taken Beijing by surprise, as the city usually experiences dry summers. However, this year saw a stretch of record-breaking heat in the region.