Beijing authorities have lifted a severe weather alert but have warned residents to remain vigilant against natural disasters after more than 82,000 people were evacuated over fears of more deadly floods. The municipal weather office had imposed a red rainstorm warning—the highest in its four-tier system—on Monday, forecasting heavy rainfall until Tuesday morning.
The alert was lifted early Tuesday morning, with a social media statement from the office explaining that the weather system had weakened as it moved eastward. However, the office continued to warn of isolated downpours in outlying parts of the city and advised that people “must not let up after strong rains have passed” as landslides or other disasters could follow. According to state news agency Xinhua, which cited the city’s flood control headquarters, over 82,000 people at risk from the heavy rainfall were evacuated as of Monday evening. Officials warned of flooding risks in the northeastern suburb of Miyun, the most severely affected by the recent deluge, as well as southwestern Fangshan, western Mentougou, and northern Huairou.
Last week, floods in Beijing’s northern suburbs killed at least 44 people and left nine missing, based on official figures. A tragedy at an elderly care center in Miyun resulted in 31 fatalities, prompting a local official to admit to “gaps” in disaster readiness. “Our knowledge of extreme weather was lacking. This tragic lesson has warned us that putting the people first, putting human life first, is more than a slogan,” said Yu Weiguo, Miyun’s ruling Communist Party boss, at the time. Residents of flood-hit areas told AFP journalists that they were surprised by the speed at which the rushing water had inundated homes and destroyed villages.
Restoring Order
During a meeting on Monday, the municipal government emphasized the need to “restore the normal order of life and production in post-disaster areas as quickly as possible.” According to a city social media statement, officials said urgent tasks included road repairs, the resumption of electricity and water services, and the refurbishment of schools, hospitals, and elderly care homes. China’s public security ministry has also cautioned people to be on guard against “rumours,” including exaggerating the scale of natural disasters to cause panic, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday.
China has been hit by heavy rains in recent weeks, with severe flooding in the north followed by intense rainfall along the southern coast. Parts of Hong Kong were brought to a standstill on Tuesday by flooding from heavy rains, after the highest-tier rainstorm warning was issued for the fourth time in eight days. Natural disasters are a common occurrence across China, especially in the summer, when some regions experience heavy rain while others suffer from extreme heat. China is the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases that drive climate change and contribute to making extreme weather more frequent and intense. However, it is also a global renewable energy leader that aims to make its massive economy carbon-neutral by 2060.
