Recent days, heavy rainfall continues to hit the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. In Hebei, a group of 18 tourists who went to Chengde to escape the summer heat were caught in a flash flood, resulting in all 4 private cars being washed away.
Since July 23, parts of Beijing, Hebei, and northern Tianjin have experienced heavy rainfall, with accumulated precipitation ranging from 100mm to 450mm. Localized areas like Miyun in Beijing, Baoding and Chengde in Hebei have even seen rainfall exceeding 500mm.
On the afternoon of July 28, a netizen posted a video claiming to have been stranded for 15 hours due to a flash flood while seeking summer relief in Chengde. The video showed muddy floodwaters submerging roads and causing trees to be uprooted.
On July 29, Ms. Li, the person who shared the video, informed Jimo News that she and her friends, along with 6 children, totaling 18 people, traveled from Cangzhou, Hebei to the area near Qingsongling in Xinglong County, Chengde during the summer vacation. They stayed in a homestay in Kuailaolin Village, Qingsongling Town.
Recalling the event, Ms. Li mentioned that around 3 am on the 27th, she was awakened by the homestay owner due to floodwaters rushing into the house the moment she opened the door. The owner then led them to retreat uphill from the backyard. There was a vacant house higher up the mountain where they sought shelter from the rain.
“No water, no electricity, and no mobile signal,” she said. Ms. Li witnessed cars one by one being washed away from the homestay entrance, including her own Ford SUV among the 4 cars swept away by the floodwaters. Fortunately, they evacuated in time, ensuring everyone’s safety.
After the water receded, Ms. Li and the others returned to the homestay to await rescue. By the afternoon of the 28th, the roads were mostly passable, and a bus arranged by local villagers transported Ms. Li’s group and several tourists from Tianjin to leave the area.
Ms. Li confirmed that they have safely evacuated and returned home.
According to a report on China National Radio on the 29th, Xinglong County has suffered from consecutive heavy rainfall, triggering flash floods and mudslides, leading to road closures and villages losing communication. The most severely affected areas in the county are three towns close to Beijing, namely Liudaohe, Douziyu, and Qingsongling, with Liudaohe being the worst hit.
On the evening of the 29th, county government officials in Xinglong responded that the road in Kuailaolin Village had been cleared, and about one-third of the tourists had left. However, communication services had not yet been restored.
Officials from Qingsongling Town government mentioned that Kuailaolin Village is located alongside the highway. “Electricity may be restored now, but mobile signals might still be weak and under repair.”