BEIJING – At least 30 people have died in Beijing after relentless rains triggered catastrophic floods across northern China. Authorities confirmed the fatalities on Tuesday, with 28 deaths reported in the hard-hit Miyun District and two others in Yanqing District. More than 80,000 residents have been evacuated as rising waters destroyed homes, collapsed bridges, and blocked roads. Weather officials said Tuesday afternoon that the heavy storm clouds had moved out of the city, but more rain is expected.
The floods, fueled by days of record-breaking rainfall, have left at least 130 villages without power and disrupted communication lines. According to official data, the Ministry of Emergency Management said more than 23 million people nationwide have been affected by natural disasters this year most recently by floods that have cost China an estimated $7.5 billion.
In Beijing’s mountainous outskirts, military police and emergency crews have cordoned off flooded areas. Roads to the most damaged regions, including Liulimiao Town in Huairou District, remain blocked.
A young woman from Liulimiao told local reporters she lost contact with her family after Sunday. “They’re stuck in our old home at the foot of a hill,” she said. “The new house closer to the river was swept away.” Her father narrowly escaped injury after a falling pole crushed their car during the storm.
President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out” rescue operations on Monday and instructed authorities to prepare for the “worst-case and extreme scenarios.” The central government has allocated 200 million yuan ($28 million) to support rescue and recovery work.
In neighboring Hebei province, eight deaths were confirmed after a landslide hit a village in Chengde City. Four others are missing as search teams continue operations in the area, which saw six months’ worth of rainfall over one weekend.
China’s Meteorological Administration warned earlier this month that climate change is intensifying the frequency and strength of extreme weather. A government report from June noted a clear rise in heavy rainfall and high-temperature events since the 1960s.
The floods come amid a summer of climate extremes across China. While Beijing and Hebei struggle with deadly downpours, parts of central and eastern China are battling sweltering heat, with temperatures expected to exceed 40°C (104°F) this week. Meanwhile, a typhoon named Co-May is approaching from the southeast, threatening additional rainstorms in the coming days.
Relief centers in Beijing are sheltering displaced families, offering food, medicine, and temporary lodging. In Miyun, one such shelter is hosting over 400 evacuees, including elderly residents rescued from high-risk zones.
Tourist attractions like the Summer Palace, Beijing Zoo, and China National Botanical Garden reopened Tuesday after temporary closures due to the rain, though city officials urged caution as storms could return.
In the flood-hit zones, however, rescue teams continue to fight rising waters and damaged infrastructure to reach isolated communities.
“We’ll swim if we have to,” one rescuer reportedly told a woman desperate for help for her family in a remote village. For now, the rain has paused but the danger remains.
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