Deadly Floods in Northern China Kill 60, Expose Emergency Planning Gaps

Deadly Floods in Northern China Kill 60, Expose Emergency Planning Gaps
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Severe flooding in northern China has left 60 people dead, including 44 in Beijing alone, marking the capital’s worst flood disaster in years, according to official statements reported Thursday. Beijing’s Miyun district was among the hardest hit, where 31 fatalities occurred at a nursing home in Taishitun after extreme rainfall overwhelmed the area.

Authorities were notified of residents trapped inside, but rescue efforts were hampered by rising floodwaters. Officials acknowledged deficiencies in the city’s contingency planning, noting that the town had not been previously considered flood-prone. Torrential rains caused the Qingshui River to swell to 1,500 times its normal volume, and the Miyun Reservoir reached record water levels.

Across Beijing, over 300,000 people were affected, with damage reported to more than 24,000 homes, 242 bridges, and 756 kilometres of roads. At least 31 individuals remain missing in Beijing and neighbouring Hebei province as recovery operations continue.