Four killed as heavy rains batter northern China
Beijing
Heavy rains triggered a deadly landslide in Hebei province, killing four people and leaving eight missing, as northern China faces severe flooding. The landslide occurred in a village near Chengde city due to unusually intense rainfall, state broadcaster CCTV reported Monday.
Flash floods and landslides have also hit Beijing's Miyun district, forcing over 4,400 residents to evacuate. Pictures circulating on social media show floating cars, submerged homes, and damaged infrastructure. Over 10,000 people have experienced power cuts.
Beijing has now issued its highest-level flood warning, with similar alerts in 11 other provinces. Northern regions are expected to see more heavy rain over the next three days, according to the Central Meteorological Observatory.
The Ministry of Water Resources and the national emergency department are monitoring conditions in Hebei and nearby areas. In Shanxi province, videos showed submerged roads and flooded farmland, prompting more flash flood warnings.
Experts say extreme weather is becoming more common in China, particularly in the north, possibly due to global warming and stronger East Asian monsoons.
In response, the National Development and Reform Commission announced 50 million yuan (about $7 million) in emergency funds to repair roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and embankments in Hebei.
This month alone, floods in Shandong province killed two people, while a landslide in Sichuan swept cars down a mountainside, killing five.
With extreme weather events increasing, Chinese authorities warn that flood risks will stay high, and disaster prevention efforts must remain strong across the affected regions.