Heavy Rainfall in North China Causes Fatalities and Displacement

Heavy rainfall has recently hit northern China, particularly affecting Hebei Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, resulting in casualties and extensive evacuations. As of Saturday, local officials reported that two people have died and two others are missing due to the severe weather, particularly in Baoding City’s Fuping County, where substantial rainfall began to occur on Friday.

Since Wednesday, Inner Mongolia has experienced relentless torrential rain, which has also led to flooding in various locations. Consequently, over 22,000 residents in areas such as Xilingol League, Ordos, and Ulanqab have had to be relocated as safety measures. The regional emergency management department has mobilized over 14,000 pieces of machinery, 737 drainage devices, and more than 8,200 sets of rescue supplies to aid those impacted by the storms.

In Fuping County alone, the damages from the recent heavy rainfall have resulted in estimated economic losses that exceed 203.5 million yuan, equivalent to about 28.5 million U.S. dollars. By Saturday evening, it was reported that over 46,200 individuals in that county have been directly affected by the rainstorms, and more than 4,600 residents have been evacuated for their safety.

Local meteorological authorities noted that between Friday morning and Saturday morning, a significant amount of rainfall was recorded across 1,854 weather stations within 12 prefecture-level areas and 92 counties in Inner Mongolia, with the heaviest precipitation occurring in regions like Xilingol League and the cities of Ulanqab, Hohhot, and Tongliao. In light of the situation, emergency services have initiated Level-IV alerts for flooding and geological disasters, alongside a Level-III alert for the ongoing rainstorms, while also providing 34,000 sets of relief supplies to those in need.