Deadly Flash Floods and Landslides Ravage Beijing as Typhoon Doksuri Unleashes Devastation
Beijing, China – Deadly downpours caused by the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri have triggered landslides and floods in Beijing, resulting in the destruction of roads and vehicles. The city experienced the heaviest rainfall in a decade, prompting the evacuation of over 127,000 people. At least 11 deaths have been reported, and 27 individuals remain missing. Nine deaths were also recorded in other parts of northern China.
Videos circulating on state television and social media platforms depict the once calm waterways turned into violent torrents that have flooded homes and damaged streets. In Mentougou district, the average rainfall exceeded 18 inches, while nearby Fangshan saw 16 inches of rainfall. The storm has proven to be the deadliest to hit Beijing since the 2012 floods that claimed the lives of 77 people, which the authorities initially tried to conceal.
China frequently faces typhoons and heavy rains during the summer months. However, experts warn that climate change has exacerbated the frequency and severity of these annual events. Earlier this year, over 300 people lost their lives in floods in Zhengzhou, central Henan province.
CCTV aired footage of floodwaters gushing into homes in Beijing’s Mentougou district, leading to the evacuation of over 52,000 people. Videos shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, displayed the destruction caused by the storm, including a broken road bridge with cars on top being swept away, a sinkhole outside a mall, and flooding at the Beijing Daxing Airport. Rescue workers and residents were seen wading through waist-deep water in their attempts to escape the rising floods.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has ordered search and rescue efforts to be intensified, emphasizing the need for proper resettlement of affected individuals and the prompt repair of damaged infrastructure. No estimates on the financial losses incurred have been released by authorities, but fears have been raised regarding potential damage to crops and farmland, which could impact the autumn harvest.
Typhoon Doksuri, one of the strongest to hit China in recent years, made landfall in Fujian province but weakened to a storm as it moved northward, unleashing heavy rainfall. Before reaching China, the typhoon caused the deaths of at least 39 people in the Philippines and affected parts of southern Taiwan. In neighboring Hebei province, over 300 people were trapped in a residential building due to flooding, with nine deaths, six missing individuals, and over 847,000 evacuations reported.
The chaos caused by the floods also impacted train passengers. Some were stranded without food for up to 30 hours, while others reported feeling sick due to the worsening weather conditions. Rescue efforts were carried out to evacuate stranded passengers, with one train remaining stuck at a station where supplies had to be delivered by staff wading through thick mud.
As Typhoon Doksuri weakens, authorities are bracing for the arrival of Typhoon Khanun, the sixth typhoon projected to hit China this year. Coastal areas of eastern Zhejiang province are expected to experience storm tides until Thursday. The consecutive typhoons pose significant challenges for the affected regions and further highlight the urgency of addressing climate change to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.