Heavy rain triggers landslide in northern China; four killed
MIYUN, China: Thousands of residents were forced to flee the days-long flood after torrential rain in northern China caused a catastrophic landslide, flooded riverbanks, and washed away cars on Monday.
A landslide in a village close to Chengde in Hebei province, which encircles the capital, claimed four lives and left eight more unaccounted for, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Two more people lost their lives over the weekend as a result of ‘severe’ flooding in the province, which prompted the dispatch of emergency personnel. More than 4,000 people have been evacuated from a waterlogged property in Beijing’s Miyun district, where rescuers rescued flood victims and their pets.
According to CCTV, firefighters also freed 48 individuals who were stranded in an assisted living facility. The storm is predicted to continue until Tuesday morning, and the capital is under the second-highest level alert for rain and the highest level warning for flooding.
Cui Xueji, 67, a lifelong resident of Taishitun village, told AFP, ‘I have never seen so much water before.’ As he waded through the water wearing flip-flops, he remarked, ‘We made some preparations, but we had no clue that there would be this much.’
Over 4,600 people were evacuated from Fuping County over the weekend, while a bus mishap in nearby Shanxi province left one person rescued and 13 people missing, according to official media. The state broadcaster’s footage showed flowing water on highways and in a field.
Liu, a resident of the Miyun district, claimed to have seen floodwaters carry away cars early on Monday. Rescuers walked into knee-deep water as AFP journalists watched a crawler carry people and a dog out of the 64-year-old’s compound. AFP reporters witnessed a reservoir nearby in the town of Mujiayu spew out a torrent of water.
While ambulances and military vehicles plowed flooded streets, muddy currents carried power cables away. Trees were swept away when a river overflowed its banks, swamping agricultural areas.
Some highways were severely damaged, with twisted guardrails lining their sides and pieces of bare concrete strewn across lanes. – AFP
