Over the past three days, China's capital has experienced its greatest downpour in at least 140 years as Typhoon Doksuri's leftovers flooded the area, converting streets into canals where rescue workers used rubber boats to free trapped inhabitants.
According to the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, between Saturday and Wednesday morning, the city received 744.8 millimetres (29.3 inches) of rain.
The record rains caused serious flooding in the province of Hebei bordering Beijing, where the waters rose to perilous heights. Rain damaged drinking water pipes, knocked down electricity, and wrecked roads. Rivers near the capital were flooded, submerging some cars while hoisting others onto pedestrian-only bridges.
The number of confirmed deaths from the torrential rains around Beijing rose to 21 on Wednesday after the body of a rescuer was recovered.
At least 26 people remain missing from the rains.
Among the hardest hit areas is Zhuozhou, a small city in Hebei province that borders Beijing’s southwest.
Nearly 850,000 people have been relocated, local authorities in Hebei province said.
The previous record for rainfall was in 1891, the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said Wednesday, when the city received 609 millimeters (24 inches) of rain. The earliest precise measurements made by machines are from 1883.
According to the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, between Saturday and Wednesday morning, the city received 744.8 millimetres (29.3 inches) of rain.
The record rains caused serious flooding in the province of Hebei bordering Beijing, where the waters rose to perilous heights. Rain damaged drinking water pipes, knocked down electricity, and wrecked roads. Rivers near the capital were flooded, submerging some cars while hoisting others onto pedestrian-only bridges.
The number of confirmed deaths from the torrential rains around Beijing rose to 21 on Wednesday after the body of a rescuer was recovered.
At least 26 people remain missing from the rains.
Among the hardest hit areas is Zhuozhou, a small city in Hebei province that borders Beijing’s southwest.
Nearly 850,000 people have been relocated, local authorities in Hebei province said.
The previous record for rainfall was in 1891, the Beijing Meteorological Bureau said Wednesday, when the city received 609 millimeters (24 inches) of rain. The earliest precise measurements made by machines are from 1883.
