Four Killed, Thousands Evacuated as Torrential Rains Flood Northern China

By Iyojo Ameh

At least four people have been confirmed dead and eight others remain missing after relentless rains triggered devastating floods and landslides across northern China, including the capital Beijing and surrounding Hebei province.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that heavy rainfall in the mountainous areas near Chengde, Hebei province, caused a landslide that claimed four lives. The Chinese national emergency management department has dispatched a team to inspect what it described as “severe” flooding in the region.

People walk on a bridge over a high-running river after heavy rains at Xin’anzhuang village, in Miyun district, on the outskirts of Beijing on July 28, 2025. A landslide triggered by unusually heavy rain killed four people and left eight others missing in northern China’s Hebei province, state media said on July 28, as downpours force thousands to evacuate. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)

Thousands have been forced to flee their homes as rivers burst their banks and roads collapsed under the pressure of rising waters. In Beijing’s suburban Miyun district, more than 4,000 residents were evacuated due to torrential rainfall. “I’ve never seen so much water before,” said Cui Xueji, 67, a lifelong resident of Taishitun village, wading through ankle-deep water with a tricycle loaded with firewood. “We did some preparations but had no idea there would be this much.”

Power lines were swept away in muddy torrents while emergency vehicles navigated submerged roads. Aerial footage showed entire fields and roadways submerged, and rivers turned into raging currents. In Mujiaya village, a nearby reservoir was seen releasing torrents of water to prevent overflow, adding to the chaos below.

In neighboring Shanxi province, a bus accident in the heavy rains left one person rescued and 13 missing, according to state media. More than 4,600 people were also evacuated over the weekend in Fuping County, Hebei, as part of ongoing emergency efforts.

The damage has extended beyond immediate casualties. Roads and highways have been left in ruins with collapsed lanes, twisted guardrails, and scattered concrete. Low-rise homes in hilly areas were surrounded by gushing waters, although many structures remained standing.

In response to the disaster, China’s National Development and Reform Commission has allocated 50 million yuan (around $7 million) for relief and reconstruction efforts in Hebei. The funds are intended for post-disaster emergency recovery and rebuilding of critical infrastructure, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The deluge comes as China continues to grapple with climate-related disasters across various regions. Flash floods in Shandong province earlier this month killed two and left 10 missing, while a landslide in Sichuan province swept multiple cars down a highway, killing five.

With the country experiencing increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, climate change remains a growing concern. While China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, it is also investing heavily in renewable energy with a national goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

As rescue teams continue to search for the missing and assist the displaced, authorities have issued the country’s second-highest rainstorm warning and the highest-level flood warning, with further downpours forecast to continue into Tuesday morning.