Credited from: CHANNELNEWSASIA
Beijing is on high alert as heavy rainfall continues, prompting the evacuation of over 82,000 residents from vulnerable areas. The municipal government's flood control headquarters reported this figure as of Monday evening, highlighting the urgent need for precautionary measures in the wake of significant rainfall that devastated the capital last week, killing at least 44 people and leaving nine missing, according to India Times and Channel News Asia.
The city's municipal weather service has issued a red alert—the highest tier in China's warning system—forecasting substantial rainfall, predicting areas could see up to 200mm of rain within a six-hour period starting Monday. Authorities have advised residents to stay indoors and avoid any unnecessary travel due to the elevated risk of flash floods, landslides, and other natural disasters, particularly in mountain regions, as reported by Anadolu Agency and Channel News Asia.
In response to the deadly floods that struck last week, which particularly impacted the Miyun district, authorities have closed down numerous tourist attractions and halted operations across thousands of construction sites. These actions are part of an effort to mitigate the risks posed by the severe weather, as emphasized by state reports indicating that more than 300,000 residents were affected by the flooding last week alone, according to Anadolu Agency and India Times.
Natural disasters like these are common during summer in China, yet the scale of this flooding has led to critical scrutiny of the city's disaster preparedness. Officials have openly acknowledged deficiencies in their response plans, particularly as many individuals were caught off-guard by the speed and ferocity of the floodwaters, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.