33 dead, 18 still missing after record Beijing rains

Thirty-three people have been confirmed dead, while 18 are still missing after the heavy rainfall in Beijing, which is the highest ever recorded. This devastating news was announced by officials on Wednesday.

The capital of China has been severely affected by continuous heavy rain over the past few weeks. This unpredictable weather has caused significant damage to infrastructure and flooded various areas of Beijing and its suburbs.

In addition to Beijing, floods in China’s southwestern Sichuan province have also claimed the lives of seven people. This alarming report was released by state media on Wednesday.

The authorities in Beijing updated their previous report on Wednesday, stating that 33 deaths have been recorded due to the recent adverse weather conditions in the capital. The causes of death mainly include flooding and collapsing buildings. This number is almost three times higher than what officials reported last Tuesday.

“During this difficult time, I extend my deepest condolences to those who lost their lives and to the unfortunate victims,” said Xia Linmao, the vice-mayor of Beijing, during a press conference as quoted by state broadcaster CCTV.

The floods across northern China have tragically claimed numerous lives. According to officials in Beijing, natural disasters were responsible for 147 deaths or disappearances last month. Out of these, 142 were caused by flooding or geological disasters, according to China’s Ministry of Emergency Management.

In the neighboring Hebei province, 15 deaths and 22 missing persons have been reported so far. Furthermore, in northeastern Jilin, 14 people lost their lives, and one person is still missing since Sunday.

State media reported that in Heilongjiang, further north, dozens of rivers have exceeded the “warning markers” in recent days due to rising water levels.

“The recent flooding still haunts me,” said Zheng Xiaokang, a police officer from Jiangxi village in Heilongjiang, in an interview with the state-run Xinhua News Agency. “If we hadn’t evacuated the villagers in a timely manner despite the persistent downpour and rising river water, the consequences would have been devastating,” he added.

In recent weeks, millions of people worldwide have been affected by extreme weather events and prolonged heat waves, which scientists attribute to climate change.

Sichuan torrent

CCTV reported that seven individuals lost their lives in Sichuan on Wednesday, while four others were rescued from the water. The local authorities, including public security and fire departments, are currently conducting search and rescue operations.

The incident took place at around 10 am near an embankment southwest of Chengdu, the provincial capital. More than 10 people were swept away by a sudden surge of water while they were taking pictures, according to state media.

A video shared by CCTV depicted several individuals struggling to stay afloat as a powerful torrent carried them downstream, with onlookers shouting from the water’s edge.

The cause of this deluge remains unknown at this time.

Meteorological authorities in the nearby city of Qionglai issued a yellow warning for rain at 10:40 am on Wednesday. They anticipated over 50 mm of precipitation in certain parts of the administrative district over the next six hours.

© 2023 AFP

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