ZHUZHOU, China — China’s capital has recorded its heaviest rainfall in at least 140 years over the past few days.
The city recorded 744.8 millimeters of rain between Saturday, July 29, 2023, and Wednesday morning, Aug. 2, the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said on Wednesday.
The record rainfall comes as northern China has been deluged with heavy rains as the remnants of typhoon Doksuri moved north after earlier hitting southern Chinese provinces.
Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei have been hit by severe flooding, with waters rising to dangerous levels. The rains destroyed roads and knocked out power and even pipes carrying drinking water.
Among the hardest hit areas is Zhuozhou, a small city in Hebei province that borders Beijing’s southwest. On Tuesday night, police there issued a plea on Weibo for lights to assist with rescue work.
It’s unknown how many people are trapped in flood-stricken areas in the city and surrounding villages.
On Wednesday, waters in Gu’an county in Hebei, which borders Zhuozhou, reached as high as halfway up a pole where a surveillance camera was installed.
Dead, missing
Chinese authorities said Tuesday the torrential rains around Beijing had caused at least 20 deaths and 27 people are missing. / AP