Over 500mm rainfall in an eight hour period brings significant flooding to northern Beijing

The last month has seen China suffer from significant rainfall and flooding in various regions of the country with the latest flooding occuring in Hebei Province in north east China bordering Beijing and Tianjin. The capital itself has also suffered flooding throughout the last few days with the Miyun and Huairou districts being particularly affected.

In Fuping County, the Xizhuang station recorded 532 mm of rain in eight hours, with peak intensities of 125 mm in an hour, causing drainage systems to be overwhelmed and triggering widespread flash flooding. This deluge, equivalent to several months of precipitation, affected over 46,200 residents and led to the evacuation of more than 4,600 people. At least two fatalities were reported, with two others missing, as confirmed by Hebei’s provincial emergency management bureau today. Rescue and relief operations continue in Baoding City’s Fuping County, where the rainfall was described as historically unprecedented.

In Beijing, the northern mountainous districts of Miyun and Huairou faced intense rainfall on 27 July with the Huangtuliang Station in Miyun District recording 315.3 mm of rain in a 10 hour period from 12.00 on 26 July with 302 mm recorded falling in just six hours. This triggered severe flooding, prompting a Level-1 flood alert in Miyun District and the evacuation of 3,065 residents from 149 villages. The Miyun Reservoir saw a record peak inflow of 6,550 cubic meters per second, and communication disruptions were reported in areas like Fengjiayu Township.

Today, 28 July further flooding has been experienced in the Miyun District with floodwaters sweeping away cars, submerging roads, and partially flooding residential buildings. It has been reported that power cuts have affected over 10,000 people. China’s Ministry of Water Resources activated a Level-IV emergency response for flood control in Beijing on Sunday. An orange rainstorm warning, forecasting up to 250 mm of additional rain through to the morning of Tuesday 29 July was also issued. No casualties were reported in Miyun, but the region faced significant disruption, with 12 major roads closed intially with 7 now usable. There are ongoing rescue efforts using satellite communications to reach isolated areas.

It has been reported on social media and on various news channels that all the six sluice gates of the Miyun reservoir were fully opened for flood discharge at 15.00 on 27 July, causing an immediate surge in the water level of the Qingshui river downstream, a tributary of the Chaobai river and causing subsequent flooding in nearby villages and towns.

The post below from China Focus provides images of the opening of the sluice gates.

From 28 July , the video clip below shows the Miyun Reservoir north of Beijing covered with debris.