Chinese capital Beijing witnessed heavy rains and flooding killing at least 34 and leading authorities to evacuate 80,000, according to state media on Tuesday. Roads have been shut and more 130 villages have faced electricity issue with no power, Beijing Daily said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping directed authorities on Monday to contemplate worst-case scenarios and urged relocating of people residing in flood-threatened areas, AFP reported.
A deadly landslide in Luanping County, Hebei Province, claimed the lives of four people, while eight others remain unaccounted for. The incident occurred in a remote village. A local resident told Beijing News, a state-affiliated outlet, that communication had been cut off, leaving him unable to contact his relatives.
In Beijing’s Miyun District, officials discharged water from a reservoir that had reached its highest level since it was constructed in 1959. Authorities cautioned the public to stay clear of rivers downstream, as water levels continued to rise amid forecasts of additional heavy rainfall.
‘Serious casualties’
China’s Premier Li Qiang said Monday that the heavy downpour and flooding in Miyun led to “serious casualties”, and stressed for rescue efforts, the China’s Xinhua News Agency report said.
Beijing authorities carried out a high-level emergency action at 8 pm on Monday, requesting residents to stay inside, shutting down schools, suspending construction work and pausing outdoor tourism and other activities until the response is withdrawn.
