At least 30 people have died in Beijing as persistent rainfall hits northern China, triggering widespread flooding. Authorities have evacuated more than 80,000 residents from the capital as additional precipitation is expected to continue through July 29. Power outages have hit some 130 villages, while dozens of roads have been blocked, BBC reports.
President Xi Jinping has called for “all-out” search and rescue operations to minimize further casualties amid the ongoing crisis. According to the BBC, the country’s meteorological services report that 19 national weather stations in the north have registered new monthly rainfall records, with 13 of them marking the highest levels ever recorded.
Beijing, accustomed to severe summer weather, has faced deadly floods before. In July 2012, 79 people were killed in what remains the city's deadliest flood in recent memory.
Countries at high flood risk often face a mix of geographical, climatic, and infrastructural challenges. Low-lying nations like Bangladesh and the Netherlands are threatened by proximity to rivers and seas, while countries like India and Vietnam endure annual monsoon flooding. Additionally, rapid urbanization and deforestation worsen flood impact in places such as Brazil and Nigeria. These floods often cause large-scale displacement, property damage, and fatalities.
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