Torrential rains in Beijing have left at least 30 people dead and forced the evacuation of more than 80,000 residents, as large swaths of northern China reel from days of extreme weather, according to state media reports on Tuesday.

The Chinese capital and surrounding provinces, including Hebei, Jilin, and Shandong, have been pummeled by intense rainstorms this week, triggering deadly floods, landslides, and widespread infrastructure damage. The weather system, which has brought some of the heaviest rainfall in years, continues to disrupt life across the region.

According to Xinhua, citing the Beijing municipal flood control headquarters, the latest storms have resulted in 30 deaths in the capital alone as of midnight Monday. Among the hardest-hit areas is Miyun district, northeast of Beijing, which recorded the highest number of casualties. Huairou in the north and Fangshan in the southwest have also suffered severe impacts.

Tens of thousands evacuated

Beijing Daily, a local state-run outlet, reported that over 80,000 people have been displaced in the capital due to what it called “continuous extreme heavy rainfall” that caused “major disasters". Dozens of roads have been closed and more than 130 villages have experienced power outages.

At least 4 killed, roads turn into rivers as heavy rains lash northern #China #Flood #Asia #Hebei #Beijing #InnerMongolia #ChinaFloods #Hohhot #Flashflood #Rain #Climate #Weather #Viralpic.twitter.com/3TP1lAV82m

— Earth42morrow (@Earth42morrow) July 28, 2025

In a public statement on the disaster, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on authorities to “prioritize people’s safety,” urging rapid evacuation and preparedness for the worst. The statement came as rescue teams struggled to reach stranded communities amid blocked roads and rising waters.

In Hebei province, which encircles Beijing, a landslide near Chengde city killed four people and left eight others missing, according to China Central Television (CCTV). Emergency crews continue search operations as more heavy rain is forecast in the coming days.

Flooding adds to summer of climate extremes

Natural disasters have become increasingly frequent in China’s summer months, with some regions suffering from catastrophic flooding while others endure blistering heat waves. Earlier this month, flash floods in Shandong province left two dead and 10 missing. In Sichuan, a landslide swept cars off a highway, killing five.

While China remains the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, it is also increasingly vulnerable to climate-linked disasters. Scientists point to global warming as a key driver of the country’s intensifying weather extremes. China has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 and remains a global leader in renewable energy deployment, but mounting disasters underscore the urgency of its climate adaptation efforts.