China’s northeast region is struggling to cope with severe floods caused by Typhoon Doksuri, with more fatalities and missing people reported as authorities continue to evacuate thousands of residents. In Shulan, Jilin province, one person died and five were reported missing, bringing the total death toll to 22. Over 14,300 people were evacuated from the city of more than 700,000, as waterlogged streets and flooded fields made it difficult to navigate. The city has seen five straight days of rainfall, with the average precipitation reaching 111.7mm (4.4in) by Friday afternoon.
The heavy rains, remnants of Typhoon Doksuri, have been battering northern China since late July, disrupting the lives of millions. The worst-hit areas include Beijing and neighboring Hebei province, where flooding has killed at least 22 people. In Heilongjiang province, known as China’s “great northern granary,” rain has inundated farms and flooded streets, leading to the evacuation of thousands of people. The city of Shangzhi has been particularly hard hit, with heavy rainfall turning roads into rivers and inundating thousands of households.
Rescue workers are battling to contain the crisis, dispatching teams to areas most affected by the flooding. In Heilongjiang’s capital Harbin, more than 53,000 people had to be evacuated as multiple reservoirs and rivers exceeded safety levels, while 41,600 hectares (103,000 acres) of crops were damaged. In Yushu, Jilin province, around 19,000 people were forced to evacuate due to flooding.
Typhoon Doksuri.
Meanwhile, in Hebei province, authorities issued fresh alerts for rainstorms on Saturday, as floodwaters in Zhuozhou started to recede, allowing some of the 125,000 evacuated residents to return to their homes. The death toll in Baoding, a city in Hebei province, reached 10, with 18 people still missing. Floods have damaged roads and washed away bridges in the city’s Yesanpo Scenic Area, a national park known for its gorges and mountains.
As the crisis continues, authorities are working to restore infrastructure and provide aid to affected residents. The heavy rainfall has also highlighted the need for greater flood control measures, particularly in regions prone to flooding. The China government has pledged to invest in flood prevention and disaster mitigation efforts to minimize the impact of such disasters in the future.
