China intensifies rescue efforts after heaviest rains in 140 years

China has dispatched thousands of rescue workers to Zhuozhou, a flooded city of over 600,000 residents, as the torrential rains continued to wreak havoc on swathes of the city.

Zhuozhou, a city in Hebei province to the southwest of Beijing, has been worst hit, with crashing storms killing at least 21 people.

Twenty-six people remain missing from the persistent rains.

The exact number of people trapped in flood-stricken areas in the city and surrounding villages remains unknown.

Nearly 850,000 people have been relocated, local authorities in Hebei province said.

Beijing and Hebei have witnessed waters rising to dangerous levels.

Beijing recorded its heaviest rainfall in at least 140 years over the past few days after being deluged with heavy rains from the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri.

China’s capital recorded 744.8 millimeters (29.3 inches) of rain between Saturday and Wednesday morning, the Beijing Meteorological Bureau reported on Wednesday.

The rains have destroyed roads and knocked out power and damaged pipes carrying drinking water supply.

The torrential rains flooded rivers surrounding the capital, leaving cars waterlogged, while lifting others onto bridges meant for pedestrians.

As the floodwaters flow south, the authorities in the city of Gaobeidian have evacuated 113,000 residents and opened reservoirs to trap the excess water, Xinhua reported.

According to the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, the previous record of rainfall was in 1891, when Hebei received 609 millimeters (24 inches) of rain. 

The record rainfall from Typhoon Doksuri may not be the last as Typhoon Khanun, which was lashing Japan on Wednesday, is expected to head toward China later this week.

The powerful storm, with surface winds of up to 180 kph (111 mph), may also hit Taiwan before it reaches China.

MG