The death toll continues to rise as Beijing faces severe flooding, with a nursing home for the elderly suffering the tragic loss of 31 residents.
Nursing Home Tragedy: Beijing Floods Claim 31 Lives
Nursing Home Tragedy: Beijing Floods Claim 31 Lives
Severe flooding in Beijing's Miyun District leads to devastating loss at an elderly care facility.
In an unfortunate series of events this week, extreme weather conditions surrounding Beijing have resulted in catastrophic flooding that took the lives of 31 elderly residents at a care home located in Miyun District. Emergency responders have been seen battling treacherous waters, wading through chest-high floods to rescue those trapped inside. Reports indicate that many residents were immobile, making the situation dire.
Local officials have opened up about the "loopholes in emergency planning" that contributed to this tragedy, labeling it an invaluable "wake-up call." Currently, the overall flooding toll in Beijing has reached 44, with severe weather patterns being witnessed across China this summer, including oppressing heatwaves and additional flooding events in different regions.
At the time of the flood, approximately 77 elderly residents were housed at the facility, with around 40 unable to evacuate as water surged to nearly 2 meters (around 6 feet) high. The nursing home primarily serves low-income individuals, severely disabled persons, and those living on minimal allowances. Officials acknowledged that prior assessments had deemed the area safe, resulting in their exclusion from the emergency evacuation plans.
Nearby Hebei province also faced tragedies, with 16 confirmed fatalities from extreme rainfall, particularly in the city of Chengde, where eight died and 18 are still missing. Beijing has a historic susceptibility to flooding, especially during summer months—a notable instance occurred in July 2012, resulting in the deaths of 79 people.
Across China, the havoc wrought by this summer's floods has significantly impacted residents and industries alike, including the vital agricultural sector worth trillions of dollars. The Ministry of Emergency Management reported that natural disasters have cost China 54.11 billion yuan ($7.5 billion; £5.7 billion) in the first half of the year, with flooding accounting for over 90% of that figure.
Local officials have opened up about the "loopholes in emergency planning" that contributed to this tragedy, labeling it an invaluable "wake-up call." Currently, the overall flooding toll in Beijing has reached 44, with severe weather patterns being witnessed across China this summer, including oppressing heatwaves and additional flooding events in different regions.
At the time of the flood, approximately 77 elderly residents were housed at the facility, with around 40 unable to evacuate as water surged to nearly 2 meters (around 6 feet) high. The nursing home primarily serves low-income individuals, severely disabled persons, and those living on minimal allowances. Officials acknowledged that prior assessments had deemed the area safe, resulting in their exclusion from the emergency evacuation plans.
Nearby Hebei province also faced tragedies, with 16 confirmed fatalities from extreme rainfall, particularly in the city of Chengde, where eight died and 18 are still missing. Beijing has a historic susceptibility to flooding, especially during summer months—a notable instance occurred in July 2012, resulting in the deaths of 79 people.
Across China, the havoc wrought by this summer's floods has significantly impacted residents and industries alike, including the vital agricultural sector worth trillions of dollars. The Ministry of Emergency Management reported that natural disasters have cost China 54.11 billion yuan ($7.5 billion; £5.7 billion) in the first half of the year, with flooding accounting for over 90% of that figure.
