In the wake of Typhoon Doksuri, extreme rain has battered the north, breaking a 140-year rainfall record in Beijing.
Over the past few days, China’s capital recorded its heaviest rainfall in 140 years as remnants of Typhoon Doksuri deluged the region, turning streets into canals where emergency crews used rubber boats to rescue stranded residents.
The city recorded 744.8mm (29.3 inches) of rain between Saturday and Wednesday morning, the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said on Wednesday.
Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei were hit by severe flooding, with waters rising to dangerous levels. Heavy rain destroyed roads and knocked out power and even pipes carrying drinking water. It flooded roads surrounding the capital, leaving cars waterlogged, while lifting others onto bridges meant for pedestrians.
The number of confirmed deaths from the torrential rains around Beijing rose to 21 on Wednesday after the body of a rescuer was recovered.
Wang Hong-chun, 41, was with other rescuers in a rubber boat when it flipped over in a rapidly flowing river. Four of her teammates survived.
At least 26 people remain missing.
Outside Beijing
Among the hardest hit areas is Zhuozhou, a small city in Hebei province that borders Beijing’s southwest.
Rescue teams traversed the flooded city in rubber boats as they evacuated residents who were stuck in their homes without running water, gas or electricity since Tuesday afternoon.
It is not known how many people are trapped in flood-stricken areas in the city and surrounding villages. Rescue teams from other provinces came to Zhuozhou to assist with evacuations.
On Wednesday, waters in Gu’an county in Hebei, which borders Zhuozhou, reached as high as halfway up a pole where a surveillance camera was installed.
Source : Al Jazeera
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