Biblical flooding in Beijing after heaviest rain in 140 years
More than 800,000 people were forced to relocate in and around Beijing after nearly 30 inches of rain triggered some of the worst flooding in the city’s history.
Streets were flooded as heavy rain fell on Beijing, China, on July 31.
Torrents of water gushed through streets in China as moisture from former Typhoon Doksuri triggered catastrophic flooding over the weekend and into the start of August.
Doksuri made landfall last Friday in the Chinese province of Fujian, located roughly 1,000 miles (1,609 km) south of Beijing, and lost wind intensity over the weekend as it pushed inland. However, the tropical moisture fueled extreme rain across the country for days.
More than 80,000 people were relocated due to flooding in Beijing, where 29.3 inches (744.8 mm) of rain fell between Saturday and Wednesday, the heaviest rain in the city in at least 140 years, The Associated Press said. It is unclear how many people are still trapped due to the widespread flooding.
At least 26 people have died due to the flooding. The death toll may continue to climb as officials assess the damage and as floodwaters gradually recede.
Dramatic video showed over a dozen vehicles being swept away in the flooding near Beijing and helicopters being used to rescue people who were stranded in the middle of the raging rivers.
Tens of thousands of people were also evacuated in Baoding, a city about 85 miles (137 km) southwest of Beijing, after intense floodwaters washed away entire buildings, according to NBC News.
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Typhoon Khanun swipes Japan
Another typhoon is already churning in the western Pacific Ocean, but China may avoid a repeat of Doksuri.
Typhoon Khanun developed late last week west of Guam and strengthened over the weekend as it moved northwestward across the Philippine Sea.
AccuWeather meteorologists say that Typhoon Khanun is turning away from China, putting Japan in the crosshairs.
At least 34 people have been injured in Okinawa due to the typhoon, according to the AP. Additionally, power has been cut to approximately 30% of homes across the island, located approximately 900 miles (1448 km) southwest of Tokyo.
This satellite image provided by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) shows Typhoon Khanun moving north towards Okinawa, southwestern Japan, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. The powerful Typhoon Khanun was approaching Japan's southwestern island of Okinawa on Tuesday, hitting the region with strong winds and high waves, and forcing transportation to halt and stores to close. (Courtesy of National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) via AP)
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