Beijing Floods Result in Over 60 Deaths and Urgent Relief Efforts

Torrential rains have battered Beijing and its surrounding areas over the past week, leading to a tragic death toll of more than 60 people, which includes 31 individuals from an elderly care facility in the Miyun district. As of Thursday, local officials reported that over 30 more individuals were still unaccounted for, prompting urgent measures across the affected regions of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei province.

The disaster escalated early Monday when flash floods, driven by the swollen Qingshui River, inundated Taishitun town in Miyun. The river's water flow surged to an astonishing 2,800 cubic meters per second, a dramatic increase compared to its usual flow rate. This rapid rise in water levels trapped numerous residents and caregivers at the elderly care center, complicating rescue operations which could only commence several hours later on Monday morning.

With the imminent threat posed by the floods, more than 16,000 individuals were evacuated from 205 high-risk villages. However, the elderly care center, deemed safe prior to the flood, was not included in this evacuation plan, highlighting significant shortcomings in disaster preparedness as expressed by Yu Weiguo, the local party secretary. He acknowledged the heart-wrenching loss of the elderly individuals while emphasizing the need for better disaster response mechanisms for vulnerable populations, including seniors and people with disabilities.

As the rescue operations continue, officials paid tribute to the flood victims, reflecting a deep sense of sorrow and responsibility regarding the calamity. Thus far, over 300,000 individuals have been impacted by the deluge, and infrastructural damage has been substantial, with more than 24,000 homes affected. As of Thursday, the death toll in the city climbed to 44, with nine individuals still missing.

Beijing's executive vice-mayor, Xia Linmao, reported that over 104,000 people have been successfully evacuated, while extensive emergency forces from military and local units have been deployed to assist in relief efforts. Authorities are actively inspecting critical infrastructure such as dams and river embankments to safeguard communities vulnerable to future floods. Meanwhile, rescue teams in Miyun are utilizing police support to monitor and manage the water discharge from the reservoir.

Xia noted the urgency of restoring basic services, with significant progress made in reopening blocked roads and ensuring access to emergency water supplies for affected villages. Furthermore, thorough inspections of mountainous regions are planned to prevent secondary disasters, along with heightened environmental cleanup to avert potential health crises post-flood. In Hebei province, where similar weather events have led to additional casualties, the focus remains on clearing blocked roads to facilitate rescue operations, with emergency infrastructure being reestablished swiftly.