BANGKOKโ A tragic flooding event claimed the lives of at least 70 people when torrential storms struck Beijing and its surrounding regions, including a nursing home in Miyun district, Beijing. Within this district, 31 individuals, mostly elderly, lost their lives at the Taishitun Town Elderly Care Center as it was submerged by floodwaters.
Heavy rains, nearly equaling an entire yearโs average, battered the area over only a few days. The sudden and intense deluge caught many off guard, with floodwaters inundating the region on Monday. The scale of the tragedy prompted a rare public apology from officials. On Thursday, Yu Weiguo, the Miyun Party secretary, expressed his sorrow and recognized organizational failures, stating, โThe care dedicated to protection plans overlooked the senior center, presumed to be in a safe, central part of town. This is a troubling oversight we must learn from.โ
The center catered to 69 residents, 55 of whom had disabilities of some form. Located on low ground near a river, the building was particularly vulnerable during a flood, as highlighted by local sources. At the time of the catastrophe, 77 individuals, including staff, were inside the premises. Rescue operations, as depicted by a state broadcaster, heroically saved many residents, pulling them from windows by boat, though initial reports did not indicate fatalities.
The Beijing administration later disclosed that 28 individuals died in Miyun on Tuesday when rescue teams accessed the site but withheld details of the deceased. Information dissemination faces strict control in China, a regime tightened further since Xi Jinpingโs rise to prevent civil unrest. Consequently, negative news, such as the full scale of disasters or acts of violence, often sees censorship.
Floodwaters rose drastically, reaching depths of 2 meters (6.5 feet) at their peak, as per Beijing officials. Survival became a struggle; one woman recounted her 87-year-old motherโs escape from the facility in Miyun, describing a desperate climb to a windowsill while her roommate, unfortunately, could not escape.
Overall, reports confirmed 44 fatalities in Beijing. Meanwhile, nearby Hebei province identified eight more deaths, totaling 16 for the week. In Shanxi province to the north, authorities detailed a separate incident where 10 farm workers perished after their minibus got swept away during heavy rainfall. Despite continued rescue efforts, four passengers remained unaccounted for three days after the event.
This tragic series of events underscores the need for reassessing risk management and preparedness strategies, especially as climate unpredictability continues to escalate.