Chinese official makes rare admission of failings over deadly Beijing floods
Yu Weiguo, a Communist party secretary for Miyun, the northern district worst affected by this week's extreme weather, said in a press conference on Thursday that there were 'gaps' in the city's readiness for the deadly floods.
More than 40 people are confirmed to have died in the flooding that hit Miyun and Yanqing, another Beijing district, on Sunday and Monday. Nine are still missing, including four municipal government workers.
A year's worth of rain fell within seven days, turning cars upside down and flooding homes. More than 80,000 people have been relocated and more than 100 villages lost power. In total, more than 300,000 people have been affected.
'There were gaps in our preparatory plans. Our knowledge of extreme weather was lacking. This tragic lesson has warned us that putting the people first, putting human life first, is more than a slogan,' Yu said, according to Agence France-Presse.
Of the 44 confirmed fatalities, 31 happened at an elderly care home in Taishitun, a town in Miyun. A report published by Caixin, a Beijing-based business magazine, said the water in the nursing home was still knee-deep when journalists visited on Tuesday. The care home, where many residents had limited mobility, is near the banks of the Qingshui River, which overflowed during the deluge.
Yu expressed 'deep mourning' for the deaths.
His comments are a rare admission of weaknesses in the authorities' preparedness for extreme weather events, which are becoming more common. Beijing authorities said there was 67% more rainfall this year than in previous years.
City officials said their disaster prevention plans had been imperfect and there were 'shortcomings' in the infrastructure needed in the mountainous outlying districts of Beijing.
Many flood victims interviewed by the Guardian said they did not receive advance warnings about the extreme weather.
'The government was caught off-guard, they didn't know in advance either,' said Li Qingfa, a 75-year-old Miyun resident. 'We didn't really receive any specific warning. We didn't receive any training in confronting the disaster.'
On Monday, before the scale of the destruction was apparent, Xi Jinping, China's leader, said government departments should 'make every effort to protect people's lives and property'.
Additional research by Jason Tzu Kuan Lu and Lillian Yang
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Horror moment TORNADO hits Spanish resort sending furniture at tourist cafe flying during rare ‘Satan's Storm'
THIS is the terrifying moment a tornado suddenly swept away tables and chairs at a tourist cafe in Spain during "Satan's Storm". The storm hit the Costa Tropical south of Granada on Sunday, forcing holidaymakers and locals to evacuate resorts. 4 4 Two tornadoes and waterspouts formed as the temperature rose to more than 38 °C and winds reached 53mph. Footage showed the storm sweeping through Librilla, less than an hour's drive inland from La Manga in Murcia. A woman was filmed holding a giant bar terrace parasol as the tornado swept away chairs and street rubbish containers behind her. Within just moments, a stronger gust of wind sent the nearby tables smashing into her. An electricity pylon was also snapped in half and brought down by the force of the wind. Local police said in a statement: 'A tornado has carried away sunshades, chairs and tables at bars as it swept through Librilla. 'The town hall has had to cancel its 'Night of Migas' BBQ event because of the fire risk as the tornado carried away tables and chairs people had put out and even embers. 'Our officers and Civil Protection workers are still dealing with incidents involving fallen trees and lampposts.' The freak weather came amid the "Satan's Storm" - a rare atmospheric phenomenon characterised by a sudden, localised increase in air temperature. Local police said the high winds were carrying away embers that could cause wildfires. Horror moment apocalyptic 'Satan's Storm' hits Spain sparking tornadoes & sending tourists fleeing freak heat burst Meanewhile, Spanish emergency responders continued to battle 21 wildfires in different areas of the country - forcing more than 30,000 people to evacuate. Four people have now died and six are left with horrific burns in Spain 's capital Madrid. Local Laura Bueno said: 'What a scare. A heat burst swept away chairs and sunshades. "It was a hot wind like the winds from the Sahara Desert. It knocked over containers and blew everything into the sea. Children and adults suffered panic attacks.' Authorities say 33 people have been arrested since June 1 on suspicion of arson. Another shocked local added: 'I don't remember seeing such a rapid weather change in such a short space of time.' Many areas have registered record temperatures, with the thermometer in the city of Jerez de la Frontera marking an astonishing 45 °C. Weather agency Aemet has now confirmed the 16-day heatwave Spain has suffered, the third-longest on record, is now over. Torrential rain and storms are being predicted today for places like Majorca. Aemet has activated an orange alert for parts of the holiday island, including the resort of Magaluf.
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
Hurricane Erin pounds US east coast as residents brace for ‘life-threatening' waves
Hurricane Erin's arrival is being felt all along the east coast, where higher tides and powerful surf have triggered expanded warnings for flooding and tropical storm conditions. Coastal residents are bracing for the possibility of a dangerous storm surge reaching up to 4ft (1.2 metres), along with severe beach erosion. The hurricane is expected to generate 'life-threatening' waves ranging from 15-20ft, with North Carolina beaches anticipating the most brutal waves. The pounding of shorelines will last for two days or longer as Erin slowly moves north offshore through at least Thursday. Authorities have urged people to stay out of the ocean throughout the east coast. On Tuesday, the storm system's strength dipped to about 100mph (161km/h) as winds cut across its north side. But the National Hurricane Center reported early on Wednesday that the storm rebuilt an inner eye wall. 'Swells generated by Erin will affect the Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada during the next several days,' said the National Hurricane Center. 'These rough ocean conditions are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.' Officials in New York City said swimming will be prohibited at city beaches Wednesday and Thursday because of the treacherous currents from Erin. The National Weather Service put Suffolk and Nassau county beaches on a coastal flood watch. In New Jersey and Delaware, beach closures began Tuesday and are expected to extend until Friday or later in the week. While forecasts show the hurricane eventually steering away from land, the National Weather Service cautioned that beaches from Florida to New York face a high risk of rip currents through Wednesday evening. Along the Outer Banks, conditions began to deteriorate on Tuesday despite Erin still being more than 500 miles (805km) offshore. Parts were under mandatory evacuation orders and a declared state of emergency. In Buxton, incoming afternoon tides pushed waves under beachfront homes on stilts and swept water across sections of Highway 12, the islands' main roadway. The northern areas around Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, home to the region's densest development, are outside the evacuation zone. But to the south, across Oregon Inlet, lies Hatteras Island, which relies solely on Highway 12 for access. Beyond that is Ocracoke Island, which can only be reached by plane or ferry. Hurricane Erin's rapid growth ranks it among the fastest-intensifying hurricanes ever observed in the Atlantic, highlighting scientists' warnings that the climate crisis, driven by greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans, is fueling more rapid storm strengthening.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Hurricane Erin may hit the UK over Bank Holiday
Britain faces a 'big change to more unsettled weather' next week as the remnants of Hurricane Erin are set to bring wet and windy conditions at the end of summer. Meteorologists are monitoring how the system could strengthen the jet stream and impact UK weather after the bank holiday weekend as it sweeps across the Atlantic. The Met Office said Erin underwent a 'remarkable and very fast transition' from a tropical storm to a 160mph Category 5 'monster' in 24 hours last weekend. This morning it was a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of about 100mph, located about 500 miles off the Outer Banks islands of North Carolina . The system is forecast to remain out in the ocean, before the remnants could be seen in Britain by late Sunday or early Monday - bringing big waves to coastal areas. Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said it 'does look a little bit more likely that autumn will make an early appearance' at some point next week, with an 'increased likelihood of low pressure, showers, spells of rain and increased wind as well'. Wet conditions in the final week of summer would end a period of dry weather for much of the country, with the UK on track for one of its hottest summers on record. But further warm and settled weather will continue into the bank holiday weekend, with highs of between 22C and 24C every day in London until at least next Tuesday. The Met Office expects high pressure will continue to dominate for the rest of this week, although showers are possible in western areas at the end of the weekend. Mr McGivern said Erin underwent a 'remarkable and very fast transition from a tropical storm to a Category 5 monster in just 24 hours at the start of the weekend.' He said the storm is expected to move north and then curve north-eastwards into the North Atlantic over the next few days and into the weekend. By Sunday it will have technically become an ex-hurricane, and Mr McGivern clarified that 'no hurricane could hit the UK or will hit the UK in the near future'. He said this was 'because the seas surrounding the UK are simply not warm enough -they're some 10 degrees lower than you'd expect to sustain an actual hurricane'. Looking at how Erin will affect the UK's weather, Mr McGivern continued: 'It could bring its remnants to the UK at some point, but it could well stay away. 'However, the more important question is actually how will it strengthen the jet stream and how will that jet stream bring us other lows that are not necessarily Erin? 'Either way, whether or not it hits us as an ex-hurricane, it's still likely to bring us a big change to more unsettled weather for next week.' He added that there were many variables involved, such as 'how an ex-hurricane is going to interact with a jet stream and how the jet stream is going interact with an ex-hurricane'. Mr McGivern said: 'What looks most likely is that that ex-hurricane fuels the jet stream. The jet stream brings a big change to the UK's weather into next week, brings an increased likelihood of low pressure, showers, spells of rain and increased wind. 'Of course, we need the rain, but it might not be welcome for people who want to enjoy the last week of the summer holidays. It does look a little bit more likely that autumn will make an early appearance.' The summer has been marked by persistent warm temperatures even outside the four heatwaves which have hit the country, with June and July both seeing well above-average conditions. With two weeks to go until the end of the meteorological summer, conditions could still shift. But the season's overall warmth and consistently above-average temperatures mean it could rank among the UK's warmest in records dating back to 1884. Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said: 'Any remnants of the hurricane aren't expected to have an impact on the UK until early next week, there's uncertainty how it will play out. 'From late on Sunday the uncertainty starts to kick in. There's a risk of some rain developing, a potential that then things will turn increasingly unsettled. 'It's likely becoming more unsettled early to middle part of next week, at this stage we can't be too firm on the details.' Provisional figures from the Met Office show that the UK's average temperature from June 1 to August 17 stands at 16.2C, some 1.6C above the average temperature. In North Carolina, evacuations have been ordered along the barrier islands of the Outer Banks where a storm surge from Erin could swamp roads with waves of 15ft.
