Climate Change

Typhoon Doksuri: Death toll rises to 11 as Beijing sees rains for the fourth consecutive day

With consecutive typhoon hits, the country is going through one of its worst summer floods

 
By DTE Staff
Published: Tuesday 01 August 2023

The persistent downpour in China has led to 11 deaths in Beijing, as it rained for the fourth consecutive day in China’s capital. The Chinese state media also reported another 27 missing cases amid flooding in the mountains surrounding the capital.

So What is happening in China? Seasonal flooding hits large parts of China every summer. But this time, a train of typhoons has caused non-stop precipitation and widespread flooding in China. Some northern regions reported the worst floods in 50 years.

After a week of Typhoon Talim, China has been hit by Typhoon Doksuri, which is one of the strongest storms to hit the country in years. Doksuri swept through coastal Fujian last week, leading to $2.06 billion in damage and affecting almost 2.7 million people.

Between the morning of July 30 and July 31, 2023, Beijing recorded an average of 260mm of rainfall. The city government said the rainfall over the past few days has exceeded records from a severe storm in 2012 when the city received 190.3mm of rain in one day.

The Beijing Observatory is keeping a red alert for heavy rainfall in place. Days of heavy rains have led to rivers rising to dangerous levels. It has also disrupted the transportation and livelihoods of people in China.

As of July 31, China’s capital city had sealed over 100 mountain roads and evacuated more than 52,000 people from their homes. China is also bracing for its third typhoon hit, as Typhoon Khanun is expected to enter the East China Sea in the coming days. With consecutive typhoon hits, the country is going through one of its worst summer floods.

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