Beijing has been hit by flooding, with 30 deaths reported due to the disaster. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officially announced the death toll on the 29th, attributing the disaster to heavy rainfall but not mentioning the release of water from multiple reservoirs. Some victims claim the official death toll is inaccurate, stating that in their village alone, 4 people were swept away, and over 300 people are missing.
In recent days, Beijing has experienced continuous and extreme heavy rainfall. According to multiple official media reports on July 29th, as of midnight on the 28th, the average precipitation in Beijing was 165.9 millimeters, with the highest recorded rainfall in Miyun Langfangyu and Zhujiayu reaching 543.4 millimeters. The highest precipitation intensity was recorded in Huairou Dongyu, with 95.3 millimeters of rainfall in one hour between 10 pm and 11 pm on the 26th.
The official statement indicated that as of midnight on the 28th, there were 30 deaths in Beijing due to the disaster, with 28 in Miyun and 2 in Yanqing. However, officials only emphasized that the disaster was caused by heavy rainfall, without mentioning reservoir water discharge.
On July 27th, multiple reservoirs in Beijing, including Miyun, Huairou, and Pinggu, discharged water on the same day, resulting in the closure of 352 mountain flood channels. Many areas were submerged, with roads, bridges destroyed, and disruptions to water, electricity, and network services.
On the 27th, China Central Television (CCTV) reported, citing information from the Ministry of Water Resources, that Miyun Reservoir released water at 15:00, gradually lowering the reservoir water level. By 18:00, the outflow rate had reached 500 cubic meters per second. It was reported that after the discharge from Miyun Reservoir, downstream areas such as Chaoriver, Bairiver, and further downstream Chaobairiver, affecting areas like Miyun, Huairou, Shunyi, and Tongzhou.
Public records show that after flowing out of the Miyun Reservoir in Beijing, Chaoriver and Bairiver converge in Miyun Hegou Village, forming what is known as the Chaobairiver, with a total length of 467 kilometers. Since the establishment of the CCP, they have built two large reservoirs, Miyun Reservoir and Huairou Reservoir, as well as five medium-sized reservoirs and 33 small reservoirs on this water system, with a total storage capacity of 46.6867 billion cubic meters.
According to official media reports, on the evening of July 28th, heavy rainfall continued in parts of Beijing, including Fangshan, Daxing, Fengtai, Chaoyang, Changping, Huairou, and Pinggu districts, with some areas experiencing heavy or torrential rain.
Mr. Wang, a resident of Beijing, stated to reporters on the 29th that there was flooding in the northwest and northeast parts of Beijing on the evening of the 28th, nearly submerging the capital’s airport.
He mentioned that the situation in Pinggu was severe, as the suburban areas of Pinggu and Miyun are mostly mountainous, making rescue efforts difficult due to damaged roads.
Regarding the water discharge, a blogger in Beijing posted that the Chaobairiver had discharged water, leading to evacuations. They were informed that the water supply and electricity in the community could be cut off for three to four days.
A villager from Zhuangtouyu Village in Mujiayu Town, Miyun District, Beijing, mentioned that due to increased water discharge, riverside restaurants were flooded, and his family had to relocate. Some losses, like his uncle’s fish pond, were swift and substantial due to the rising water levels.
The villager emphasized that the flood was devastating and aggravated their already challenging situation, with concerns over the handling of water release to prevent urban flooding.
Beijing citizen Sun Hugou from Liulimiao Town, Huairou District, expressed doubts about the accuracy of the official death toll, stating that the village secretary and his wife were swept away, along with two other individuals, which were not reflected in the reports. The floodwaters from the mountains left over 300 villagers unaccounted for, with challenges in evacuating due to blocked roads.
Beijing lawyer Liu Ming pointed out that the CCP’s reservoir management has significant issues, often prioritizing their interests over downstream water needs. The reluctance to release water during dry seasons for downstream uses and sudden discharge during disasters poses additional risks to citizens already impacted by flooding.
The devastating floods in Beijing have exposed vulnerabilities in the management and response to natural disasters, drawing attention to the need for better coordination and preparedness in the face of such calamities.