BEIJING: Chinese authorities evacuated over 82,000 people across Beijing at risk from heavy rainfall, state media said, after dozens of people died in flooding in the capital’s suburbs last week.
State news agency Xinhua said tens of thousands had been relocated from vulnerable areas as of 9pm (1pm GMT) on Monday (Aug 4), according to the city’s flood control headquarters.
Authorities warned of flooding risks in the northwestern suburb of Miyun – the hardest hit by last week’s deluge – as well as southwestern Fangshan, western Mentougou and northern Huairou.
The municipal weather service also announced a red alert – the highest in a four-tier system – forecasting heavy rain from noon on Monday until Tuesday morning.
Floods in Beijing’s northern suburbs killed at least 44 people and left nine missing last week, according to official figures.
Some 31 fatalities occurred at an elderly care centre in Miyun – prompting a local official to admit “gaps” in disaster readiness.
Residents of flood-hit areas told AFP journalists that they had been surprised at the speed with which the rushing water inundated homes and devastated villages.
