At least 30 reported dead in Beijing flood, over 80,000 evacuated

As severe rainfall and flooding continue to devastate northern China, according to official sources, at least 30 fatalities have been reported in Beijing, with over 80,000 residents evacuated to safety.

An article published today on www.msn.com reports that eight additional lives were lost on Monday, July 28, following a landslide in Chengde city—located approximately three hours northeast of Beijing.

“China is dealing with a summer of extreme weather. Record heat waves hit the country’s eastern region earlier this month while floods swept the country’s southwest,” the report states.

It further says that midst the widespread flooding in northern China, President Xi Jinping has issued a call for comprehensive rescue operations, instructing officials to brace for the most severe and extreme scenarios.

“No effort should be spared to search for and rescue those missing or trapped, to transfer and resettle residents in affected areas, and to reduce casualties to the greatest extent possible,” Xi emphasized during a Monday briefing.

In addition, Chinese authorities have committed 200 million yuan (approximately $28 million or £21 million) toward recovery efforts. This funding aims to repair damaged transportation routes and restore critical infrastructure.

The floods have caused extensive damage, destroying numerous roads and cutting power supplies to over 130 villages. Videos circulating online depict rescuers wading through water chest-deep to reach stranded residents, with helicopters and drones delivering food and other supplies into the disaster zones.

Historically, Beijing has faced recurrent flooding, especially during this season, said the article. One of the most catastrophic events occurred in July 2012, when 190mm of rain fell in a single day, resulting in 79 deaths.

This summer, similar extreme weather phenomena have reportedly unleashed chaos across various parts of China. Earlier this month, Typhoon Wipha struck eastern China, causing two deaths and leaving ten people missing in Shandong province. Two weeks prior, a landslide in Ya’an city in southwestern China claimed three lives.

MSN reports that experts increasingly attribute such weather extremes to climate change, which poses escalating threats to China’s population and economic stability—particularly its agriculture sector, valued in the trillions of dollars.

According to China’s Ministry of Emergency Management, natural disasters in the first half of the year have inflicted damages amounting to 54.11 billion yuan (about $7.5 billion or £5.7 billion), with over 90% of these losses caused by flooding.