Storm Doksuri: Two dead as Beijing is battered by widespread flooding

At least two individuals have lost their lives in Beijing, China, as the country grapples with one of the most potent storms in years. Storm Doksuri has triggered widespread flooding and chaos across northern China.

In the capital city, approximately 31,000 people have been compelled to evacuate their homes, and subway stations have been forced to close. Though the former super-typhoon is weakening, authorities are advising people to stay indoors. A red alert has been declared in Beijing, and employers have been instructed to permit remote work due to the anticipated rise in the death toll from severe flooding in the coming days.

Beijing and other cities in northern China have already experienced dangerously high levels of rainfall, with heavy rains expected to persist for at least the next 24 hours. The China Meteorological Bureau reported that between Saturday night and noon on Monday, an average of 170.9mm of rain inundated Beijing, which is equivalent to the average rainfall for the entire month of July.

Storm Doksuri made landfall in Fujian Province on Friday, causing landslides and flooding before advancing north towards the capital. Distressing footage shared by Beijing residents depicted cars being swept away by torrential rains, leading to fears that passengers could be trapped inside as the waters rapidly rose. Additionally, severe flooding has damaged some roads, while subway stations and a railway bridge were engulfed by the floodwaters, and numerous flights were canceled to and from the city.

The Mentougou district reported the recovery of two bodies from waterways, with around 5,000 people evacuated from the mountainous area. Residents expressed concerns that the heavy rains might cause structural issues for their homes due to the flooding. Further efforts were made in the Fangshan district, where around 2,000 members of the People’s Liberation Army were deployed to bolster flood defenses against rising waters.

Meanwhile, southern China braces for the arrival of Typhoon Khanun, expected to impact the heavily populated Zhejiang Province in the following days.

This year, China has experienced a series of extreme weather events, with record temperatures consistently being recorded. Scientists attribute these extreme weather patterns to climate change, as the world has already warmed by about 1.1°C since the beginning of the industrial era, and temperatures are projected to continue rising unless significant emissions cuts are implemented.

As the atmosphere becomes warmer, it can hold more moisture, leading to increased droplets and heavier rainfall, sometimes concentrated over smaller areas and shorter timeframes. The situation underscores the importance of addressing climate change on a global scale to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.