Severe flooding in northern China, particularly around Beijing, has resulted in at least 30 fatalities and the evacuation of over 80,000 people. A landslide in Chiendae city contributed to the death toll. While areas in the east faced record heat earlier this month, the northwest has been ravaged by floods, prompting President Xi Jinping to order comprehensive rescue efforts. Authorities have allocated 200 million yuan ($28 million) for recovery, focusing on damaged infrastructure.
Regions like Miyun and Huayau were severely affected, with reports of extensive road and power interruptions impacting over 130 villages. Residents are experiencing distress, with some unable to contact family members amid the chaos. Accounts detail the sudden onset of the floods, with locals expressing fears of being overlooked by rescue teams.
Historically, Beijing has faced significant flooding, with a catastrophic event in 2012 resulting in 79 deaths. Diverse natural disasters in recent weeks have marked a troubling trend, with extreme weather increasingly affecting the country and its economy, particularly its agriculture sector. In the first half of this year, natural disaster damages were estimated at 541.1 billion yuan ($7.5 billion), with floods accounting for over 90% of the losses.
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