Mass evacuations in Beijing as Typhoon Dolphin brings more torrential rain to China
Thousands of people have been evacuated from areas at risk of flooding and landslides in Beijing, as the remnants of Typhoon Dolphin continue to bring torrential rain to northern and central China.
Forecasters warned on Tuesday that the Chinese capital could receive more than 150mm of rain over the following 24 hours, with some districts forecast to exceed 200mm – more than one-third of Beijing’s average annual rainfall of 528mm.
Beijing remained under an orange rainstorm warning, the second-highest level, on Wednesday, with the heaviest rainfall expected across the morning.
Authorities closed hundreds of tourist attractions and campsites on Wednesday, with more than 1,300 tourists evacuated or turned away. Meanwhile, over 5,000 elderly people were moved from care facilities and about 1,800 people living around construction projects in mountainous or riverside areas were relocated.
The rain also disrupted Wednesday morning’s commute. Official local media reported that 250 bus routes had been suspended and trains were running at reduced speeds on 10 metro lines.
Dolphin, the strongest typhoon to hit China so far this year, has weakened after making landfall in the eastern province of Zhejiang on Sunday, but its remnants have continued to draw large amounts of tropical moisture deep inland and drench central and northern parts of the country.
The neighbouring Hebei province was also on alert for mountain floods, landslides and other geological hazards. Authorities said they had dispatched 623 teams to mountainous areas and equipped more than 2,100 at-risk villages with satellite phones or satellite messaging terminals to maintain communications during emergencies, according to state media.
In the central province of Henan, authorities raised the warning for torrential rain to the highest-level red alert on Wednesday morning, as downpours continue to batter large swathes of the province. More heavy rain was forecast through Thursday morning, with 24-hour rainfall totals of up to 350mm expected in some areas.
Classes, business operations and non-essential outdoor activities have been suspended in the affected areas of Henan. Residents were told to avoid deep flood waters and evacuate immediately if vehicles stall in water, state media reports.
China, the world’s second-largest economy, is increasingly exposed to destructive weather events that scientists link to climate change. This year is proving particularly tough due to the emergence of the El Niño weather pattern that is driving up temperatures and fuelling more frequent and intense typhoons.
Rainfall records have also been broken elsewhere in central China. Wugang in Henan received 209.5mm in a day and Xiangyang in neighbouring Hubei recorded 169.1mm, both the highest single-day rainfall totals for August, according to state media.
Reuters contributed to this report
Reporting from The Guardian contributed to this story.
