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Beijing and its surrounding regions, including Tianjin and Hebei Province, faced heavy rain and flooding as Typhoon Doksuri, the fifth typhoon of the year, tore through northeast China. The storm first hit Fujian province on Friday and then moved into the northeastern belt, prompting high-level emergency responses to address potential hazards such as landslides and flooding.
The National Meteorological Center issued a red alert for north China at 6:00 p.m. Sunday. The red alert is the highest level of storm warning and marks the second time it has been issued since the warning mechanism was implemented in 2010.
In response to the impending disaster, more than 27,000 people were evacuated from flood-prone areas of Beijing as of Sunday morning. The city's flood control authorities took immediate action to mitigate the impact of the torrential rains.
The Beijing Meteorological Service attributed the heavy rains in the capital to a combination of factors, including a trough of low pressure that developed after Doksuri's intensity weakened and warm, humid air outside the subtropical high zone.
To ensure public safety, several Beijing landmarks, including the Forbidden City and Universal Studios amusement park, have temporarily closed their doors. Libraries, museums and commercial establishments in basements were also ordered to close due to the risk of flooding.
The National Center for the Performing Arts, located near Tiananmen Square, suspended its Sunday lineup of opera and concerts and closed its doors in response to the inclement weather.
The weather warning was extended to other northern areas including Tianjin and provinces such as Hebei, Shanxi, Henan and Shandong. Authorities have warned residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel during this period of heavy rain.
As part of the precautionary measures, the Beijing mayor's office asked schools to temporarily close to prevent potential dangers for students and teachers attending training or extracurricular activities during the summer vacation.
In addition to Beijing, more than 20,000 people in Shijiazhuang, a large city southwest of the capital, have also been evacuated due to the risk of flooding. The Ministry of Water Resources raised the alert level to 2 and mobilized additional agents to monitor streams and dams.
Authorities have expressed concern that some rivers could exceed alert thresholds and that landslides could occur in mountainous areas. In a mountain town near Beijing, a river overflowing its banks triggered a torrent, though no fatalities were reported as 62 homes in the area had previously been evacuated.
In response to the situation, Beijing residents have been urged not to venture outdoors unless necessary. This call has been widely accepted, as many pedestrians and vehicles were seen avoiding the streets on Sunday afternoon.
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