Beijing, the capital city of China, experienced devastating floods on Monday as Typhoon Doksuri brought record rainfall to the city. The heavy rain turned roads into dangerous rivers, sweeping away cars and large metal road signs. Videos posted on social media showed fast-moving water rushing through the city, with muddied waves crashing against city bridges. The streets, which are typically buzzing and crowded, appeared deserted as few citizens risked venturing out in the torrential downpour and floodwaters.
According to state media, at least two people were killed in the floods, and hundreds are still trapped in their homes. Doksuri, which was designated a “super typhoon” last week, had winds reaching around 150 mph when it drenched the Philippines, resulting in the deaths of more than a dozen people.
The National Meteorological Center issued a rare red alert, China’s highest extreme weather warning, for Beijing on Sunday. Millions of people are bracing themselves for heavy rainstorms in the coming days. Chinese state media reported that half a million people had been evacuated from the southeastern Fujian province, and over 31,000 people were evacuated from the capital by Sunday night.
Many others are trapped in their homes and vehicles stranded on roadways. Firefighters were seen wading through surging knee-high floodwaters to rescue people trapped in a car, as shown in a video published by Beijing Fire Douyin.
The storm, which covered more than 85,000 square miles, potentially affected 130 million people, according to China’s National Meteorological Center. Local authorities also reported several other emergencies, including landslides and small-scale flash floods, on WeChat.
Doksuri’s downpour is considered one of the most formidable storms to hit China in recent years. This extreme weather event comes after the country experienced record heat waves in its northern provinces this summer. Despite surpassing the United States as the country emitting the most greenhouse gas annually, Chinese officials have been slow to enact environmental legislation, preferring to address climate change on their own terms.
Forecasters have issued a warning for another extreme storm, Typhoon Khanun, which is expected to hit China’s coast this week with the strength of a Category 4 hurricane. Khanun is the sixth typhoon projected to impact China this year.
How have Chinese officials responded to the recent extreme weather events, including Typhoon Doksuri
Beijing, China’s capital city, endured destructive floods on Monday as Typhoon Doksuri caused a deluge of rain to pour down. The excessive rainfall transformed roads into treacherous rivers, sweeping away cars and large metal road signs. Videos shared on social media depicted the fast-moving water engulfing the city, with muddy waves crashing against bridges. The typically busy and crowded streets appeared deserted as few citizens were willing to brave the torrential downpour and flooding.
State media reported that at least two people lost their lives in the floods, and hundreds are still trapped in their homes. Last week, Doksuri, initially labelled a “super typhoon”, caused devastation in the Philippines, resulting in over a dozen fatalities.
On Sunday, the National Meteorological Center issued a rare red alert, which is China’s highest level of extreme weather warning, for Beijing. As heavy rainstorms are expected to continue in the following days, millions of people are preparing themselves for further adverse conditions. The Chinese state media announced that approximately 500,000 individuals had been evacuated from the southeastern Fujian province, with an additional 31,000 people evacuated from the capital by Sunday night.
Numerous others remain trapped in their residences, with vehicles stranded on the flooded roadways. The fire department was witnessed wading through knee-high floodwaters to rescue individuals trapped in their cars, as seen in a video posted by Beijing Fire Douyin.
Covering an area larger than 85,000 square miles, the storm potentially impacted 130 million people, according to China’s National Meteorological Center. Local authorities also reported other emergencies such as landslides and flash floods on WeChat.
Doksuri’s heavy downpour is considered one of the most formidable storms to hit China in recent years. This extreme weather event comes after record-breaking heatwaves scorched the country’s northern provinces earlier this summer. Despite surpassing the United States as the leading annual greenhouse gas emitter, Chinese officials have been slow to implement environmental legislation, instead opting to address climate change on their own terms.
Furthermore, forecasters have issued a warning for yet another intense storm, Typhoon Khanun, which is anticipated to strike China’s coast this week with the strength of a Category 4 hurricane. Khanun is the sixth typhoon projected to impact China this year.
