Heavy Rain Triggers Severe Flooding in Northern China, Displacing Tens of Thousands of People

Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from high-risk areas of Beijing and another northern city as much of China was lashed by torrential rain on Sunday.

The heavy downpour was caused by Typhoon Doksuri, which has been sweeping northwards over China since Friday, when it hit the southern Fujian province after battering the Philippines.

The rainstorm triggered a red alert for heavy precipitation in northern China, including Beijing, Tianjin, and parts of Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, and Henan provinces.

This is the first time since 2011 that such a high-level warning has been issued, according to local media.

The impact of the rainstorm on people and infrastructure

(Photo : OANG DINH NAM/AFP via Getty Images)

The rainstorm caused widespread flooding, landslides, and traffic disruptions in northern China.

More than 27,000 people in high-risk areas of Beijing have been evacuated, and another 20,000 were relocated from parts of Hebei's capital Shijiazhuang, state media said, as per Phys.org.

Hundreds of millions of people in northern China remain under a red alert for heavy rain through at least Monday afternoon.

The rainstorm also damaged roads, bridges, buildings, and power lines in many places.

In Beijing, several subway stations were flooded and closed, and some flights were cancelled or delayed at the airport.

Meanwhile, in Hebei, a section of a highway collapsed due to a landslide, and several villages were cut off by floodwaters.

In Shanxi, a coal mine was flooded and 13 miners were trapped underground.

The rainstorm also posed a threat to public health and safety. The authorities warned of the risk of waterborne diseases and urged people to boil drinking water and avoid contact with floodwaters.

The authorities advised people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, and have also deployed rescue teams and relief supplies to the affected areas.

Also Read: Rainstorms Can Lead to Harmful Plant Pathogens?

The causes and consequences of the rainstorm for the environment

The rainstorm was caused by Typhoon Doksuri, which was initially categorized as a super typhoon as it tore across the Pacific Ocean last week, as per Channel News Asia.

It lost some intensity as it neared the Philippines, where it killed more than a dozen people, and still brought colossal waves and howling winds of up to 175 km/h to China's southeast on Friday, causing significant damage.

More than 880,000 people in Fujian province were affected by the storm, state media said on Sunday.

The rainstorm was also influenced by climate change, which has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in China and around the world.

Climate change has caused rising temperatures, melting glaciers, sea level rise, and changes in precipitation patterns. These factors have increased the risk of droughts, floods, heat waves, storms, and wildfires.

The rainstorm had both positive and negative effects on the environment. On the positive side, the rainstorm replenished water resources and alleviated drought conditions in some areas.

It also reduced air pollution and dust levels in Beijing and other cities.

On the negative side, the rainstorm caused soil erosion and nutrient loss in agricultural lands. It also washed away garbage and pollutants into rivers and lakes and disrupted the habitats and migration patterns of some wildlife species.