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Washington Post
3 days ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
More than 30 killed, tens of thousands evacuated in Chinese floods
Torrential rains pounded vast swaths of northeastern China this week, with more heavy rain expected, as the country confronts another lethal summer of devastating floods that have left rescuers wading in water up to their elbows. At least 34 people were killed and more than 80,000 evacuated as rains flooded Beijing and cities in nearby Hebei province. More heavy rain is forecast for the region in the coming days, the China Meteorological Administration said, though it's expected to weaken by the end of Wednesday. Southern China is also experiencing heavy downpours, with Hong Kong issuing its highest rainstorm warning this year, although authorities canceled it Tuesday afternoon but still warned the public to remain on alert for landslides after significant rains in eastern and southern districts. China is no stranger to powerful rainstorms and deadly floods, but scientists say global warming is exacerbating already turbulent conditions, making extreme weather events more frequent and more devastating over the past several decades. China experienced notably extreme weather last year, including the highest number of floods in its major rivers since 1998, according to a report released by the Ecology and Environment Ministry last month. The report said China's climate outlook for 2025 was 'unfavorable,' warning of risks to the economy and to human life. Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for all-out search and rescue efforts, ordering authorities to plan for worst-case scenarios, according to state media reports Tuesday. Beijing activated its highest-level flood alert Monday evening, urging residents to stay indoors. At least 21 inches of rain has poured into Miyun, a mountainous district in northeastern Beijing, where most of the deaths have occurred. Significant floods have also washed over the nearby cities of Chengde and Zhangjiakou. More than 80,000 people have been evacuated, state media said, as floods mangled buildings, filled stairwells, uprooted trees and triggered landslides. At least 136 villages in the region suffered power outages, and cars were left scattered across city and provincial streets. 'It's truly heartbreaking. … The extremity of this event is undeniable,' said Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs in Beijing. He said the cumulative rainfall during this week's storm was nearly the same as Beijing's annual average. The death toll of the floods is about half that of the 2012 disaster that killed at least 79 people in Beijing, but experts say climate change and global warming continue to exacerbate extreme weather in China, posing a mounting concern to scientists and the authorities. 'Extreme weather events are on the rise. High temperatures and heat waves are indeed becoming more frequent, and so are extreme heavy rainfall events,' Ma said. 'Over the past 60 years, there has clearly been an increasing trend, and this pattern aligns with the broader global trend of climate change.' Natural disasters in China caused nearly $7.6 billion in direct economic losses in the first half of 2025, China's Emergency Response Ministry said last month, and they have affected an estimated 25 million lives. Experts say Chinese authorities have sought to better prepare for extreme weather events in recent years, anticipating their rising frequency and intensity because of climate change. 'There's still room for improvement,' said Ma Ding, an assistant professor of atmospheric and environmental science at Duke Kunshan University in eastern China. But the country has shown 'considerable progress' in developing early-warning systems and evacuation plans, he said. 'Without those efforts, we wouldn't be talking about 30 deaths — we might be looking at hundreds,' he added, referring to the toll around Beijing. 'That's a clear example of successful adaptation.' Last week, torrential rains devastated other parts of northern China, killing two people in the northeastern province of Shandong and at least one in nearby Shanxi province. An additional 13 were unaccounted for after a bus in Shanxi went missing Sunday, Chinese state media reported, following days of rain that had left roads in the area treacherously waterlogged. Heavy rains and floods also killed at least six people in China's southwestern Guizhou province in June, prompting more than 80,000 to evacuate. Landslides in the area had leveled part of an expressway bridge and submerged a sports field three meters underwater. This month, a record summer downpour in the central province of Hubei saw more than a month's worth of rainfall on the city of Xianfeng in less than 12 hours.
The Star
7 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Storms dump nearly a year of rain in northern China
Storms in northern China have poured nearly a year's rainfall on the city of Baoding, forcing more than 19,000 people out of their homes, the national forecaster said. Rainfall in Yi, in the western part of Baoding, reached as much as 447.4mm in the 24 hours to early yesterday morning, and records were reset at a number of weather stations in Hebei province, which Baoding is part of. Official records show that annual rainfall in Baoding averaged above 500mm. A total of 19,453 people from 6,171 households were evacuated, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said in a social media post. The forecaster did not mention where the residents were moved to but shared a short clip showing two policemen in neon rain jackets boot-deep on a waterlogged street as the rain poured at night. The forecaster compared the amount of precipitation to the exceptional rainfall brought by the powerful Typhoon Doksuri to the Hai River basin in 2023, which inundated the capital Beijing with rains unseen since records began 140 years ago. The Hai River basin includes Beijing, Hebei province and the big port city of Tianjin. Hebei recorded 640.3mm in annual rainfall last year, 26.6% more than a decades-long average, according to CMA's 2024 climate bulletin on the province. The report said Hebei has been recording consecutive above-average annual precipitation since 2020. Last summer, Baoding, together with neighbouring cities Zhangjiakou, Langfang, Xiongan and Cangzhou, had 40% more than the usual seasonal precipitation, with some localised areas within Baoding recording 80% more rains, the report showed. The intensifying rainfall forms part of the broader pattern of extreme weather across China due to the East Asian monsoon, which has caused disruptions in the world's second-largest economy. Baoding maintained a red alert for heavy rains yesterday while Hebei upgraded its emergency response preparedness. Chinese authorities are watchful of extreme rainfall and severe flooding, which meteorologists link to climate change, as they challenge China's ageing flood defences, threaten to displace millions and wreak havoc on a US$2.8 trillion agricultural sector. — Reuters
CNA
25-07-2025
- Climate
- CNA
Storms dump nearly a year of rain in northern China, 19,000 evacuated
BEIJING: Storms in northern China have poured nearly a year's rainfall on Baoding, an industrial city on the doorstep of the capital Beijing, forcing over 19,000 people out of their homes as streets began to go under water and roads were being cut off. As much as 448.7mm of rain fell in Yi, an area in western Baoding, in the 24 hours to early on Friday (Jul 25) morning, triggering flash floods, causing power outages in some villages and damaging bridges and roads, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The rainfall reset records at a number of weather stations in Hebei province, which Baoding is part of. Official records show annual rainfall in Baoding averages above 500 mm. A total of 19,453 people from 6,171 households were evacuated, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said in a social media post. The forecaster did not mention where the residents were moved to, but shared a short clip showing two policemen in neon rain jackets boot-deep on a waterlogged street as rains poured down at night. The forecaster compared the amount of precipitation to the exceptional rainfall brought by a powerful typhoon in 2023, which inundated the capital Beijing with rains unseen since records began 140 years ago. Baoding's Zhuozhou, which suffered devastating floods in those rains two years ago, saw access to several bridges and roads cut off after the storms unleashed more than 190mm of rain by Friday morning. Northern China has witnessed record-breaking rainfall in recent years, exposing densely populated cities including Beijing to flood risks. Some scientists link the higher rainfall in China's usually arid north to global warming. In response to flood disasters in Hebei and also in several places in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, the Chinese government on Friday allocated 23,000 items for disaster relief, including emergency kits and blankets, to support local authorities. Hebei province recorded 640.3mm in annual rainfall last year, 26.6 per cent more than its decades-long average, according to CMA's 2024 climate bulletin on the province. The report said Hebei has been recording consecutive above-average annual precipitation since 2020. Last summer, Baoding, together with neighbouring cities Zhangjiakou, Langfang, Xiongan and Cangzhou had 40 per cent more than the usual seasonal precipitation, with some localised areas within Baoding recording 80 per cent more rains, the report showed. The intensifying rainfall forms part of the broader pattern of extreme weather across China due to the East Asian monsoon, which has caused disruptions in the world's second-largest economy. Chinese authorities are watchful of extreme rainfall and severe flooding as they challenge China's ageing flood defences, threaten to displace millions and wreak havoc on a US$2.8 trillion agricultural sector. Baoding maintained a red alert for heavy rains on Friday morning, while Hebei upgraded its emergency response preparedness. About 160km from Baoding, Beijing was not spared the impact. Rains were forecast to intensify, potentially accumulating to more than 50mm over a six-hour period from Friday afternoon till Saturday morning in a number of districts, state broadcaster CCTV said. The capital is expected to see the heaviest rainfall since its flooding season began, potentially triggering flash floods, debris rushing down mountains, landslides and other secondary disasters, CCTV reported.
The Sun
25-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Northern China storms force 19,000 evacuations as year's rain falls
BEIJING: Storms in northern China have poured nearly a year's rainfall on Baoding, an industrial city on the doorstep of the capital Beijing, forcing over 19,000 people out of their homes as streets began to go under water and roads were being cut off. As much as 447.4 mm (17.6 inches) of rain fell in Yi, in the western part of Baoding, in the 24 hours to early Friday morning, and records were reset at a number of weather stations in Hebei province, which Baoding is part of. Official records show annual rainfall in Baoding averages above 500 mm. A total of 19,453 people from 6,171 households were evacuated, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said in a social media post. The forecaster did not mention where the residents were moved to, but shared a short clip showing two policemen in neon rain jackets boot-deep on a waterlogged street as rains poured down at night. The forecaster compared the amount of precipitation to the exceptional rainfall brought by a powerful typhoon in 2023, which inundated the capital Beijing with rains unseen since records began 140 years ago. Baoding's Zhuozhou, which suffered devastating floods in those rains two years ago, saw access to several bridges and roads cut off after the storms unleashed more than 190 mm of rain by Friday morning. Northern China has witnessed record-breaking rainfall in recent years, exposing densely populated cities including Beijing to flood risks. Some scientists link the higher rainfall in China's usually arid north to global warming. Hebei province recorded 640.3 mm in annual rainfall last year, 26.6% more than its decades-long average, according to CMA's 2024 climate bulletin on the province. The report said Hebei has been recording consecutive above-average annual precipitation since 2020. Last summer, Baoding, together with neighbouring cities Zhangjiakou, Langfang, Xiongan and Cangzhou had 40% more than the usual seasonal precipitation, with some localised areas within Baoding recording 80% more rains, the report showed. The intensifying rainfall forms part of the broader pattern of extreme weather across China due to the East Asian monsoon, which has caused disruptions in the world's second-largest economy. Chinese authorities are watchful of extreme rainfall and severe flooding as they challenge China's ageing flood defences, threaten to displace millions and wreak havoc on a $2.8 trillion agricultural sector. Baoding maintained a red alert for heavy rains on Friday morning, while Hebei upgraded its emergency response preparedness. About 160 km (100 miles) from Baoding, Beijing was not spared the impact. Rains were forecast to intensify, potentially accumulating to more than 50 mm over a six-hour period from Friday afternoon till Saturday morning in a number of districts, state broadcaster CCTV said. The capital is expected to see the heaviest rainfall since its flooding season began, potentially triggering flash floods, debris rushing down mountains, landslides and other secondary disasters, CCTV reported. Elsewhere in the country's north, heavy rains disrupted railway service in Inner Mongolia as authorities suspended several passenger trains passing through high-risk areas from Friday to Tuesday. - Reuters
India Today
25-07-2025
- Climate
- India Today
Storm dumps one year's worth of rain in a day in China, over 19,000 people evacuated
A relentless deluge in northern China has brought nearly a year's worth of rain to Baoding city, Hebei province, within a single 24-hour span, triggering widespread flooding, damages to infrastructure, and the urgent evacuation of over 19,000 the doorstep of Beijing, the city of Baoding saw as much as 447.4 mm (17.6 inches) of rain fall in Yi county alone from Thursday into early Friday, a staggering figure nearly matching the city's entire annual average of just above 500 torrential rains shattered local weather records and submerged streets, while roads and bridges were rendered impassable, especially in Zhuozhou, where more than 190mm of rain fell overnight. The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) reported that 19,453 people from 6,171 households were forced to leave their homes as the water rose rapidly. Social media videos showed police officers wading through knee-deep floodwaters, assisting with overnight authorities compared this volume of precipitation to the devastating typhoon that struck the region in 2023, which had also brought unprecedented flooding to Beijing and surrounding cities. Baoding's Zhuozhou, which suffered heavily in those floods, faced yet another cut-off from the outside world as crucial bridges and transport links went under water. China's ageing flood defenses and the increasing frequency of such extreme weather are stretching emergency response. (Photo: Reuters) The province of Hebei has experienced consecutive years of above-average rainfall, with 640.3mm recorded last year—a 26.6% surge over historical norms. The CMA notes that since 2020, rainfall totals have consistently exceeded averages, marking a dramatic shift in local climate scientists link these intensifying downpours in China's traditionally arid north to the effects of global Friday morning, Baoding authorities maintained a red alert for further heavy rain. Hebei and neighbouring provinces upgraded their flood emergencies as rains threatened to persist through the 160 km away, Beijing was also bracing for what could be the most intense downpour of its current flood season, with warnings of flash floods, landslides, and secondary disasters in the city's mountainous and low-lying services in the wider region, including Inner Mongolia, faced disruptions as several passenger trains were suspended for safety ageing flood defenses and the increasing frequency of such extreme weather are stretching emergency response systems, threatening to displace millions and putting further strain on a $2.8 trillion agricultural sector. The latest spate of storms underscores the urgent climate adaptation challenges facing China's most densely populated cities and vital economic continue to monitor the situation as forecasters caution that the East Asian monsoon, combined with broader climate trends, is likely to keep disrupting the country's heartland well beyond this latest storm.- EndsTrending Reel
