Northeastern China is in the grip of devastating floods with Beijing bearing the brunt of torrential rains that have claimed at least 30 lives in the capital alone. The rescue workers are working tirelessly to save the lives of people.
On July 28, 2025, the emergency services evaluated dozens of nursing home residents from chest-high waters as the region grapples with widespread inundation. The firefighters bravely navigated the treacherous waters to rescue and evacuate 48 individuals trapped inside the nursing home in Miyun.
The continuous rainfall exceeding 543.4mm (21.4 inches) in some areas around Beijing have caused severe flash floods, mountain deluges, and mudslides.
The hotspot is Miyun district in the northeast of Beijing’s city center with the greatest number of fatalities.
Local officials reported that around 28 deaths have occurred in Miyun with two more in Yanqing district.
Due to these disastrous circumstances, over 80,000 people needed to relocate from their homes in Beijing with dozens of roads blocked and more than 130 villages having no electricity.
The municipal flood control headquarters of the city has issued a warning urging residents to avoid risk prone areas due to heavy rainfall and stay indoors to avoid any mishap.
During this escalating crisis, Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed an “all out” search and rescue effort to keep down casualties and urged authorities to prepare for worst-case scenarios.
For general disaster relief, the central government has allocated substantial funds of around 350 million yuan ($49 million) and issued additional 200 million yuan ($27million) for Beijing for speedy recovery of the nine most affected regions.
The flash flooding caused by extreme weather shows a similar pattern of devastating floods of 2023 that claimed the lives of over 80 people in the region.
Although the frequency of natural disasters are common in China during summer, the increasing intensity and frequency of these events indicates the growing challenges posed by climate change.
