A powerful storm, Doksuri, brought widespread disruption to northern China, particularly Beijing, as thousands were forced to evacuate due to the heavy rain and thunderstorms that lashed the capital. The storm, which had previously pounded the Philippines and Taiwan, was described by China’s national forecaster as one of the strongest to hit the country in years. A broad area surrounding the capital faces a medium to high risk of rainstorm disasters over the next three days, with thunderstorms peaking on Saturday.
Cumulative rainfall of 100mm (4in) or more is predicted over an area of 220,000 sq km (85,000 square miles), potentially affecting 130 million people. Despite the storm’s intensity weakening, its impact is far from over, with the China Meteorological Administration urging the public to remain vigilant and avoid high-risk areas in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, where localized rainfall could reach a staggering 600mm (2ft).
Authorities in Beijing took proactive measures to prepare for the storm’s impact, suspending sports events and closing parks and tourist spots. The city’s flood control department mobilized 203,230 rescue personnel and evacuated 3,031 people, according to local media reports. The storm also led to the closure of schools and businesses, and the evacuation of workers from offshore oil and gas fields, state media reported.
Rain Brings Widespread Disruption to Northern ChinaDoksuri is the most powerful typhoon to hit China this year and one of the strongest to hit the southeastern province of Fujian since Typhoon Meranti in 2016. The storm made landfall on Friday, downing power lines and uprooting trees, affecting approximately 880,000 people in coastal Fujian and forcing more than 354,400 to evacuate and resettle. The storm’s impact was significant, causing more than 478m yuan (£52m) in direct economic losses, state media reported.
As the storm rolled inland, social media posts showed emergency workers clearing fallen trees and landslides, and people wading in thigh-high flood waters. Other damage reported in Fujian province included a billboard ripped off a hotel building by winds, a large tree falling on a man who was later rescued, and a garment factory in the port city of Quanzhou catching fire. Rescue efforts were underway to assist elderly people trapped at home and a heavily pregnant woman who was transferred to hospital on a stretcher in knee-deep waters.
Later in the day, cities began to recover. Fuzhou, which suspended metro services on Saturday morning due to waterlogged subway stations, resumed operations in the afternoon. The city, along with neighboring cities Putian and Xianyou, reported the heaviest daily precipitation since 1961. Before hitting China, Doksuri roared through Taiwan and the northern Philippines, where rain and strong winds led to the capsizing of a ferry that left at least 25 people dead.