China sees record flooding in Beijing, with 20 deaths and huge destruction

August 3, 2023: China sees record flooding in Beijing, with 20 deaths and huge destruction.

According to the Chinese authorities, the city recorded 744.8mm of rainfall between Saturday to Wednesday, marking the highest since 1891, based on data from the Beijing Meteorological Bureau.

Heavy storms have buffeted China as Typhoon Doksuri swept north after slamming southern Chinese provinces.

Doksuri made landfall in China’s Xiamen and Quanzhou on Monday morning and caused “severe flooding in Beijing,” according to a report by the NASA Earth Observatory. The massive storm damaged infrastructure, forcing tens of thousands to flee for safety.

The typhoon was one of the worst storms to hit northern China in years, and the torrential rain in Beijing has killed at least 20 people as of Tuesday.

In Beijing, over 31,000 people were vacated while work at construction sites halted.

Apart from Beijing, extreme rains also struck north China and the regions along the Yellow and Huaihe rivers, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has reached for rigorous search and rescue efforts and flood control and disaster relief work.

“It is crucial to ensure medical treatment for the injured and provide aid and comfort to the families of the deceased,” Xi was quoted as saying.

Beijing lifted the red alert for flood on Wednesday as “the water flow in major rivers has moved below the warning mark,” according to Xinhua.