Deadly floods in China worsen as rescue and evacuation intensify

(Patria) - Heavy rains and high river levels in northeastern China threatened downstream cities, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people, although the country appears to have avoided the worst consequences of the typhoon season that has hit parts of East Asia, reports AP.

The province of Hebei, which surrounds the capital Beijing on three sides, has issued warnings for several of its cities. The northern province of Heilongjiang has evacuated entire villages in anticipation of life-threatening floods.

Rescue efforts are still ongoing. At least 20 people have been reported killed in the suburbs of Beijing, and another 27 are missing after storms over the weekend that quickly overwhelmed drainage systems.

Beijing usually has dry summers, but this year it experienced a period of record heat that dramatically subsided over the weekend with nearly a week of constant rain and downpours. Power outages occurred in some areas, public transport and summer classes were suspended, and residents of the metropolis of more than 20 million people were told to stay home.

Nearby cities of Tianjin and Zhuozhou were also hard hit. Fire departments, with the help of volunteer rescue groups, searched residential buildings and railway tunnels for trapped people, bringing hundreds to safety.

With its status as the capital, the seat of the ruling Communist Party, and home to cultural treasures such as the ancient Forbidden City, Beijing has provided special flood protection by diverting water to neighboring regions.

This on Friday caused complaints on social media about floods in surrounding areas that could allegedly have been avoided if rainwater had been diverted through the capital's canal and river system.

Other regions, particularly in southern China, have suffered unusual deadly summer floods. Other parts of the country are struggling with drought, further pressuring the food supply for 1.4 billion people already grappling with disruptions to grain supplies due to Russia's war against Ukraine.

President Xi Jinping issued an order to local authorities to do their utmost to rescue those trapped and minimize loss of life and property damage.