Torrential Rains Wreak Havoc on Beijing’s Streets

Heavy rainfall has brought devastation to Beijing, claiming the lives of twenty people and leaving over a quarter of a century of monsoon-style flooding in its wake. The rain, originating from Typhoon Doksuri, has pushed the city’s rivers to their breaking points, necessitating the use of a flood storage reservoir for the first time in 25 years.

Chinese state media reported that over 100 mountain roads had been sealed off and more than 52,000 residents evacuated from their homes as the city struggled to cope with the unprecedented deluge. Beijing authorities have already exceeded the city’s average rainfall records, which date back to a severe storm in July 2012.

Rivers in the city swelled to alarming levels, with the Changping Wangjiayuan reservoir logging an astonishing 738.3mm of rainfall. This is far beyond the city’s average rainfall of around 150-180mm in July, Beijing’s wettest month.

Residents in Fangshan, a flood-hit district in southwest Beijing, took creative measures to cope with the disaster. Videos posted on social media showed a man identified as Liu Bing using his forklift to rescue a family and their dog from the chest-deep mud. According to his wife, Liu had previously used the same method to rescue people during heavy rainfall in July 2012.

The city’s subway lines were partially suspended, with trains in the western suburbs unable to operate on Tuesday. Beijing’s Mentougou district in the west endured dramatic damage the previous day, with torrential rains transforming roads into rivers and scything through buildings. “It’s like a matchstick,” wrote one commentator on WeChat.

A military unit launched an “airdrop rescue mission” on Tuesday, delivering essential supplies, including food and ponchos, to stranded residents in Mentougou. In Fengtai, a district closer to the city center, the armed police corps deployed 200 soldiers and officers to reinforce road barriers, which had been breached by the bursting Yongding River.

The city has been working tirelessly to mitigate the disaster, with the local government and Communist party officials publishing a joint letter emphasizing the city’s resolve to overcome the disaster. As the situation continues to unfold, the authorities remain vigilant, anticipating further flooding and geological disasters in the coming days.