China Issues First 'Red Alert' Since 2011 As Typhoon Doksuri Brings Torrential Rainfall In Beijing

China issues 'red alert' for torrential rain and Typhoon Doksuri's impact, causing hazardous weather conditions across the country.

As the typhoon continued its path, China's weather service reported that its "influence" was now being felt in the country's northern regions. (Representational Image)

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China's meteorological service on Saturday (July 29) issued a red alert for torrential rain in the capital Beijing and surrounding provinces as Typhoon Doksuri makes its presence felt inland, causing hazardous weather conditions across the country, news agency AFP reported. Typhoon Doksuri made landfall in southern Fujian province on Friday morning, packing winds of up to 175 kilometres per hour (110 miles per hour), according to the report. As the typhoon continued its path, China's weather service reported that its "influence" was now being felt in the country's northern regions.

The recent occurrence of extreme weather conditions and record temperatures in China, according to the report, has raised concerns among experts about the impact of climate change. This summer has seen an increase in extreme weather events, which scientists attribute to climate change exacerbating the problem, it added. 

Potential For Severe Flooding As First 'Red Alert' Since 2011 Issued: 

Forecasters have issued warnings that Saturday's torrential downpour could cause even worse flooding than the disastrous floods of July 2012, which killed 79 people and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands, AFP reported citing local media reports.

According to the report, this is the first time China has issued a severe rainfall warning, denoted by a red alert, since 2011.

The red alert is set to be in effect from 8 pm local time (1200 GMT) and covers a vast area with several hundred million inhabitants, including the major cities of Tianjin and Shandong, along with Hebei province, it said. 

According to the report, several parks, lakes, and riverside roads in Beijing have been closed as a precautionary measure, and city officials have been vigilant in monitoring the situation.

Doksuri was a super typhoon that hit the Philippines first, killing at least 13 people and causing landslides and floods, the report said. It weakened as it approached China, but it still caused significant damage, with fierce winds and colossal waves affecting the southeast region.

The city of Xiamen, a major port on the Taiwan Strait, was hit by severe weather, which ripped the roof off a bus station and pushed it into a nearby sign, it said. The city streets were littered with downed trees, and flooding hampered transportation.