Torrential rains led to 30 deaths in Beijing as of Monday, according to state media reports on Tuesday, as Chinese leaders called for all-out efforts in disaster relief after “heavy casualties” in the city and other parts of the country.
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As China enters the rainy season of July and August, downpours and floods have hit Beijing, the neighbouring province of Hebei, the northeastern province of Liaoning and the eastern coastal province of Shandong, causing “heavy casualties and property losses”, state news agency Xinhua said on Monday night.
Videos of flooding and landslides, as well as rescue efforts, have been circulating on social media.
In its Monday report, Xinhua cited instructions by President Xi Jinping calling for all possible steps to be taken to prevent flooding, for effective deployment of disaster relief supplies to ensure immediate responses and for quick handling of any sudden emergencies.
Miyun, a mountainous district in the northeast of Beijing, was particularly badly affected, with heavy rain since Saturday causing flash floods and landslides. More than 37,000 people from 149 villages were forced to relocate, local media reported.
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According to a Xinhua report on Tuesday, the death toll in Miyun stood at 28 as of Monday, and a total of 134 villages across the city suffered blackouts. Two further fatalities were reported in other parts of Beijing.
“The heavy rainfall and flooding in Miyun have caused heavy casualties. It is imperative to make all-out efforts to search for and rescue missing individuals, properly relocate affected residents, and do everything possible to minimise casualties,” Premier Li Qiang said, according to Xinhua on Monday.