Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credit: STR / AFP 11:08 am, July 31, 2023
Two people died Monday in Beijing as a result of torrential rains that have hit the region since Friday, state media reported. Rescue services found two bodies in waterways in Beijing's Mentougou district, according to People's Daily newspaper.Two people died Monday in Beijing as a result of torrential rains that have hit the region since Friday, state media reported. Rescue services found two bodies in waterways in Beijing's Mentougou district, according to People's Daily newspaper.
Authorities on Monday placed the Chinese capital on high flood alert. Much of Beijing's suburbs "are at high risk of collapses, landslides and mudslides," according to the alert from authorities, who have also issued a red alert for flooding.
The equivalent of a month's rain in 40 hours
The heavy rains are a consequence of Cyclone Doksuri, which killed at least six people in the Philippines. It has lost some of its power and the tropical storm has been sweeping through northern China since Friday.
China: Typhoon Doxuri caused heavy rains in several parts of the country, including the capital Beijing. pic.twitter.com/iTvmUct0Bn
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According to the capital's weather service, 170.9 millimeters of water fell on Beijing in 40 hours, between Saturday night and Monday noon. That's almost the average rainfall for a whole month of July. Beijing has been very cautious about heavy rainfall since 2021, when severe flooding in the center of the country killed more than 300 people, mostly in the major city of Zhengzhou.