Beijing Braces for Torrential Rain: A City on High Alert

On Monday, Beijing officials alerted residents in its mountainous suburbs to prepare for potentially severe rainfall, just a week after the city experienced its deadliest floods since 2012. Weather forecasts predict up to 200mm of rain expected over a six-hour period in various parts of the sprawling city.

Authorities are intensifying efforts to reinforce ageing flood defences and improve evacuation strategies, after a tragic flood event last month resulted in the deaths of at least 44 people. Many were trapped by rapidly rising waters at a nursing home located in the Miyun district, revealing gaps in the city's contingency plans.

Currently, seven districts in Beijing, including Mentougou and Fangshan, are on the highest alert due to elevated risks of flash floods and landslides. In Hebei province, adjacent to Beijing, reports of casualties at a riverside wellness retreat further underscore the severe threats posed by extreme weather events.

(With inputs from agencies.)