Deadly Deluge: Extreme Weather Ravages Northern China
Extreme weather in northern China has resulted in at least 60 deaths, with significant casualties in Beijing. Heavy rainfall reaching record levels caused floods and landslides in the region, challenging policymakers and impacting factory activity. Chengde, Hebei, and Miyun reservoir were particularly hard-hit.
At least 60 people have died in northern China over the past week due to extreme weather conditions, marking one of the most lethal flooding incidents to strike the region in recent years. Among these casualties, 31 occurred at an elderly care facility in Beijing's Miyun district.
Deputy Mayor Xia Linmao reported that in Beijing alone, 44 fatalities have been confirmed, with nine individuals still missing. Torrential downpours, which began the previous week, intensified by Monday, wreaking havoc across Beijing and its neighboring provinces. Miyun district experienced alarming rainfall levels, peaking at 573.5 mm (22.6 inches), far surpassing Beijing's annual average rainfall of 600 mm.
In the nearby Hebei province, 16 fatalities have been acknowledged, with 18 people still unaccounted for. The devastation has severely impacted villages near the Xinglong area of Chengde, located approximately 25 kilometers from the overspilling Miyun reservoir. Record-breaking water levels plagued the reservoir, submerging nearby communities, while landslides in Hebei claimed additional lives. Efforts to manage the impact of this natural disaster continue as policymakers confront challenges exacerbated by climate change.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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