In the wake of devastating floods caused by Storm Doksuri, northern China has been grappling with the aftermath of torrential rains, with the death toll now reaching at least 30. Officials have reported that ten people lost their lives in a city near Beijing, and an additional 18 individuals remain missing. The city of Baoding, located about 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Beijing, has been particularly affected by the floods.
Storm Doksuri, formerly a super typhoon, made landfall in China last Friday, bringing some of the most severe rains the region has witnessed in the past 140 years. As a result of the heavy downpour, more than 600,000 residents of Baoding, out of its total population of 11.5 million, were evacuated from areas deemed at risk. The neighboring provinces that border Russia and North Korea have also experienced relentless rainfall and floods.
A red alert has been issued in Beijing due to geological risks like landslides, which are associated with the ongoing bad weather conditions. The floods have caused significant damage to infrastructure and have led to the flooding of entire districts.
China has been facing a series of extreme weather events in recent months, ranging from record-breaking heatwaves to deadly floods. In July alone, natural disasters resulted in 147 deaths or disappearances across the country, with flooding and geological disasters being the primary causes of these tragic incidents.
Aerial photographs captured have revealed the extent of the devastation caused by the floods in Zhuozhou. Shopping streets were transformed into brown water rivers, and surrounding farmland was entirely submerged, with floodwaters stretching for miles. Rescue operations have been underway, with responders using boats to deliver essential supplies like instant noodles, bread, and drinking water to those trapped in inundated properties.
The impact of extreme weather events and prolonged heatwaves has not been limited to China alone. Millions of people worldwide have been affected by such disasters in recent weeks. Scientists are increasingly attributing these events to climate change, which is exacerbating weather patterns globally.
Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based NGO, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, has highlighted the role of climate change in contributing to these extreme weather conditions. He noted that while Storm Doksuri brought heavy rainfall, rising ocean temperatures due to climate change have also played a significant role in intensifying the severity of the storms.
Read more: Infertility Surges in UAE Men Due to Their Lifestyle
“China has experienced unprecedented extreme heatwaves since last year,” Ma stated. “This year, there are record-breaking high temperatures in Northern China. These heatwaves are linked to global warming, and this is what most climate scientists around the world tend to agree,” he added.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of these devastating floods and other extreme weather events, there is an increasing recognition of the need to address climate change on both a global and local scale. As communities come together to recover and rebuild, the urgency of implementing measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change becomes ever more apparent.
