As severe rains and floods wreak havoc on northern China’s roads and homes, Chinese officials said that at least 30 people had perished in Beijing and that over 80,000 had been evacuated to safety.
A landslide in Chengde city, around three hours northeast of Beijing, on Monday claimed the lives of eight more people. Extreme weather is plaguing China this summer. Earlier this month, the country’s eastern portion had record heatwaves, while the southwest experienced floods.
President Xi Jinping has urged “all-out” rescue operations and instructed officials to be ready for “worst-case and extreme scenarios” in light of the severe flooding in northern China.
The president stated on Monday that every effort should be made to find and rescue anyone who are missing or stranded, to relocate and resettle communities in impacted regions, and to minimize deaths as much as possible.
200 million yuan ($28 million; £21 million) has been set aside by Chinese authorities for recovery activities, which include fixing infrastructure and transportation. The heavy rain was most severe on Beijing’s outskirts, particularly the suburban areas of Miyun and Huairou.
Over 130 communities have lost electricity as a result of the floods, and several roadways have sustained damage. Videos depict helicopters and drones transporting food and other help to the disaster area, as well as rescuers wading through chest-deep flooding to reach stranded inhabitants.
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