China: 20 Dead as Heavy Rains Batter Beijing

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Facts

  • On Tuesday, Typhoon Doksuri brought heavy rain and widespread flooding to northern China, causing at least 20 deaths in Beijing. More than 52K have been evacuated, as Beijing saw an average of 10 inches of rain from last Saturday to Monday.1
  • The rains are likely to continue this week and could exacerbate flooding in the neighboring city of Tianjin and in Hebei province, as officials report at least nine deaths in Hebei.2
  • China has earmarked 110M Yuan ($15.43M USD) for flood prevention and search-and-rescue, with over 500 rescuers reportedly working in Beijing, while military helicopters were being used to airdrop supplies to the areas most affected.3
  • Hebei has been one of the hardest hit areas, with officials saying at least 850K people have been relocated. The regional rain has shattered records, with rains as of Wednesday pushing the total seen this week up to 29 inches, past 1891's record of 24.4
  • Over 9K rescuers are working in Hebei's Zhuozhou city, southwest of Beijing, where waterlogged areas are said to be twice the size of Paris, as rainwater discharge from Beijing flows into the city.5
  • Doksuri claimed at least a dozen lives as it swept through the Philippines and Taiwan last week before reaching China, with Typhoon Khanun expected to reach China's coastal cities of Zhejiang and Fujian this week as it moves through the East China Sea.2

Sources: 1Guardian, 2BBC News, 3Global Times, 4Associated Press and 5Reuters.

Narratives

  • Anti-China narrative, as provided by Guardian. As China faces once-in-a-generation flooding, it is disturbing to hear reports that China and Saudi Arabia may have obstructed climate change discussions at the G20 last week. China, which accounts for half of the world's coal production, has resisted calls to curb emissions, which continue to increase. China is seeing the real impacts of climate inaction this week, and it will hopefully spur change in Beijing.
  • Pro-China narrative, as provided by Chinadaily.com.cn. The PRC has been at the forefront of flood prevention as the country ramps up search-and-rescue efforts to minimize the loss of life. For the first time in its history, specially constructed reservoirs to detain floodwaters were put to use and greatly minimized damage from flooding. China will do whatever is necessary to mitigate the impacts of these typhoons and build even more resilient measures for the future.