Beijing battered: 30 dead, 80,000 evacuated as relentless rains unleash deadly floods

BEIJING, July 29 — Torrential rains have claimed at least 30 lives in Beijing and forced the evacuation of over 80,000 residents, state media reported Tuesday, as extreme weather continues to batter northern China.

Relentless downpours have struck the capital and surrounding provinces including Hebei, Jilin, and Shandong in recent days, triggering floods and landslides.

According to state news agency Xinhua, the fatalities in Beijing were confirmed as of midnight Monday, with the worst-hit areas including Miyun, Huairou, and Fangshan districts. Authorities have warned of ongoing risks, urging the public to avoid danger zones.

Local outlet Beijing Daily reported that more than 130 villages have lost power and dozens of roads have been closed due to the severe flooding.

“Continuous extreme heavy rainfall caused major disasters,” the report stated.

President Xi Jinping has called on officials to prepare for worst-case scenarios and expedite the evacuation of residents from high-risk areas.

In neighbouring Hebei province, a landslide near Chengde killed four people, while eight others remain missing. Meanwhile, flash floods earlier this month in Shandong province left two dead and 10 missing, and a highway landslide in Sichuan province killed five.

Natural disasters are frequent across China during the summer months, with climate experts linking the increasing intensity of such events to climate change.

While China remains the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, it has also positioned itself as a leader in renewable energy, pledging to become carbon-neutral by 2060. — AFP