Torrential downpours have battered northern China, resulting in at least 30 fatalities and widespread destruction in the mountainous northern outskirts of Beijing. The intense rainstorms have triggered severe flooding and landslides, prompting authorities to issue the country’s second-highest warning for rainstorms and the highest warning for floods. Over 80,000 people have been evacuated in the Chinese capital alone, with many more displaced in surrounding areas.

Rescue teams are working tirelessly to reach affected areas, with military vehicles and ambulances navigating flooded streets. In Miyun district, one of the hardest-hit areas, floodwaters have submerged homes, cars, and roads, leaving residents stranded. Local officials have made “all-out efforts” to search for missing persons and reduce casualties. The government has allocated 350 million yuan ($49 million) for disaster relief in nine regions hit by heavy rains, with an additional 200 million yuan set aside for the capital.

The extreme weather event has raised concerns about the impact of climate change on China’s infrastructure and agricultural sector. Scientists link the increased rainfall in China’s usually arid north to global warming, which may be exacerbating the frequency and intensity of storms.

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