Typhoon Doksuri: Rescue Efforts In China Intensify As Heaviest Rainfall In 140 Years Floods Cities

As China deals with its most intense rainfall in 140 years, the government is stepping up its rescue and relief efforts even as the floods claimed 20 lives.

Damaged cars stand in floodwaters in Mengtougou district on July 31, 2023 in Beijing, China. Typhoon Doksuri has brought heavy rainfall to the city. ( Image Source :Getty Images )

China has deployed a substantial number of rescue personnel to Zhuozhou, a city in the southwest of Beijing with a population of over 6,00,000 residents, which has been flooded by torrential rain brought by Typhoon Doksuri. Typhoon Doksuri has caused widespread destruction across an area of the city twice the size of Paris, reported news agency Reuters. The intense rain flooded the Beijing airport as well, reported The Guardian.

Super typhoon Doksuri hit China right after Typhoon Talim caused devastation two weeks ago in the country.

Zhuozhou is situated in the Hebei province and has borne the brunt of the most severe storms to hit northern China in more than a decade. These storms have resulted in the loss of at least 20 lives, according to Reuters. The city shares a border with Beijing, which experienced its heaviest rainfall in 140 years between Saturday and early Wednesday, according to official data, The Guardian reported.

Media reports quoted 11 flood-related deaths in Beijing and 9 more in the Hebei province.

Given the dire circumstances, Hebei authorities declared a state of emergency due to the remarkably high average rainfall of 355 mm since Saturday, marking the most substantial levels since at least July 2012. Consequently, over 1,34,000 residents of Zhuozhou have been affected, with more than one-sixth of the city's population being evacuated.

Located at the confluence of multiple rivers, Zhuozhou has faced some of the most severe impacts in Hebei. Floodwaters have moved downstream, engulfing residential areas spanning an area larger than twice that of Paris. Agricultural land, covering nearly 650 hectares, has also been significantly affected.

On Tuesday, the local public security bureau revealed that the city was grappling with water shortages and partial power outages. Urgent supplies such as rafts, life jackets, and emergency provisions were desperately needed. Local residents reported that water levels surged to as high as four meters (13 feet).

Responding to this crisis, approximately 9,000 rescuers were dispatched to Zhuozhou, with additional rescue teams rushing in from neighboring Henan and Shanxi provinces, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

A satellite image captured on Tuesday depicted Zhuozhou almost entirely surrounded by floodwaters on three sides. The Global Times newspaper indicated that a significant volume of water was flowing from Beijing into three rivers encircling Zhuozhou.

Many Zhuozhou residents expressed their frustration on social media platforms about the perceived delay in rescue and recovery operations. Some criticized the lack of support from Beijing despite the city's role in managing floodwater discharge. A Weibo user shared their disappointment, stating, "We are helping manage the floodwaters from Beijing, so they should extend assistance to us, but we have not received anything."

The floods have also affected warehouses in Zhuozhou, a hub for logistics. In response, Hebei authorities announced the establishment of an additional flood diversion area along the Yongding River on Wednesday to mitigate the flooding, Reuters reported.

BooksChina.com, an online bookstore, revealed on their WeChat account on Tuesday night that their personnel were awaiting rescue on the fourth floor of their flooded warehouse, where more than four million books were stored.

As floodwaters continued their southward progression, authorities in Gaobeidian evacuated approximately 113,000 residents. Additionally, reservoirs have been opened to contain the excess water, as reported by state-run media Xinhua.

Meanwhile, in Japan, the typhoon hit the southwestern Okinawa prefecture. The storm is projected to veer westward across the East China Sea, potentially making a northeast turn toward Kyushu, Japan's third-largest island.