Recent days have seen extreme heavy rainfall pounding several areas in Beijing, China for seven consecutive days, resulting in severe flooding. The worst-hit area was Miyun District, where a nursing home experienced 31 casualties. In Huairou District, multiple buildings and roads were damaged or collapsed, with a local bed and breakfast owner, Mr. Cui, witnessing the harrowing flood firsthand. He described the scene as “like a scene from a disaster movie” with water levels reaching nearly 2.5 meters at its peak. Mr. Cui’s ten bed and breakfasts were all swept away, resulting in a loss of over 20 million yuan in renovations and furniture.
Beijing faced this catastrophic rainfall starting from July 26, prompting various areas to issue red alerts for heavy rain. As of July 29, over 130 villages in Beijing were still without power, and numerous roads were blocked. However, official media coverage of the disaster focused more on highlighting the heroic rescue efforts rather than the extent of the devastation.
On social media, discussions regarding the “Beijing flooding” were strictly controlled, overshadowing criticisms of the warning and evacuation systems with rescue videos. Many residents were even unaware of the severe heavy rainfall hitting Beijing in a timely manner.
Liulimiao Town in Huairou District was one of the heavily affected areas by the flood. Mr. Cui, the bed and breakfast owner, shared with Nine Patch News that on the night the flood struck, the water level surged dramatically in Xiwanzi Village where he resides. Past 11 p.m. on July 26, a loud noise woke him up – the neighboring house had collapsed. With the power out, Mr. Cui illuminated the scene with his cell phone, finding the water level in the yard had reached a meter high. Unable to open the door due to water pressure, he had to escape through the window. Meanwhile, guests in the neighboring house, a family of four (including children), panicked at the doorstep as they couldn’t swim.
Mr. Cui noticed the water had risen to 1.5 meters, and shortly afterward, it reached close to 2 meters with muddy torrents in the yard. With no official or private rescue teams in sight, Mr. Cui and the trapped individuals had to rely on self-rescue efforts. With his and others’ assistance, they managed to reach the rooftop by climbing the yard wall, where the water level had almost reached 2.5 meters.
After the rain ceased after 1 a.m., the water level started to recede. Mr. Cui advised everyone against immediately descending to flat ground, emphasizing the need to conserve energy as they had no food or water and the way ahead was uncertain. When daylight broke and it rained again, the soaked and hungry group remained on edge. Taking a risk, Mr. Cui ventured to the adjacent house roof to assess the water situation before relocating the group. With no power, network, or signal on their phones, they could only wait for rescue. Mr. Cui decided to search for supplies behind the village, navigating the slopes with the help of trees and flip-flops, and eventually procured food and water for everyone.
Recalling the entire night spent on the rooftop, Mr. Cui expressed, “Surrounded by floodwater, it felt just like a real disaster movie – one would feel exceptionally helpless, like being on a deserted island.”
Videos captured by witnesses in Liulimiao Town, Huairou District, show people stranded at high points waiting for rescue even after the floodwaters had receded, while the brownish flood swept away some vehicles. A 4WD truck stationed on a street was surrounded by debris and wreckage.
BBC Chinese reported that a young woman revealed how her eight relatives, including three elderly individuals in their seventies and two young children, were trapped in an old house in Liulimiao Town, Huairou District after the flood. She shared how they opted to stay put in the old house rather than venture outside.
This unnamed woman explained, “The roads were washed out. If they got stuck halfway on a collapsed road, it would be even more dangerous.” She mentioned that their newly built house near the river had already been washed away by the flood. She further recounted how her father attempted to rescue their car and narrowly escaped being swept away when a utility pole fell and damaged the vehicle, with him managing to grab onto a nearby large tree.
Initially, on the early morning of July 28, Beijing Daily reported that the city faced severe heavy rainfall, claiming “no casualties.” However, on the same day, CCP leader Xi Jinping admitted to “significant casualties and property losses due to flooding and geological disasters in Beijing, Hebei, Jilin, Shandong, etc.,” with Premier Li Keqiang instructing efforts to “minimize casualties.” Only then did people outside the disaster area grasp the severity of the situation in Beijing.
On July 29, CCP officials officially announced that the heavy rainfall in Beijing had already caused at least 30 deaths.
By July 31, the latest update revealed that the death toll in Beijing had risen to 44 people, with nine individuals still missing. Among these, Miyun District suffered the most with 37 fatalities, including the tragic loss of 31 residents in a nursing home. This tragedy spurred widespread grief and anger online, demanding a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and hold those responsible accountable.
Miyun District had already faced “continuous extreme heavy rainfall” since July 23. The public questioned why authorities, given nearly a week of preparation, failed to evacuate the nursing home residents in time. What scientific basis did decision-makers have to assert that the town center where the nursing home was located was safe? Were relevant meteorological or water resources departments involved in decision-making? Did any officials raise objections?
According to initial estimates, this flood disaster has affected over 300,000 people in Beijing, damaging 24,000 houses.