China Braces for Multiple Typhoons and Flooding Crisis: Death Toll Rises and More Lives at Risk

Multiple parts of northern and southern China are expected to face a high risk of flooding in August, as two or three typhoons are expected to make landfall in the country, according to Chinese authorities. The consequences of Typhoon Doksuri have already caused extreme flooding in Beijing and neighboring Hebei Province, resulting in the loss of at least 20 lives.

Eleven people died in Beijing alone, including two who sacrificed their lives while on duty in the heavy rainstorms and flooding. Another 13 individuals are currently missing. The National Commission for Disaster Reduction, along with other related departments, has issued a joint statement warning of the potential for flooding in the northern parts of the Yangtze River, as well as drought in other parts of the country.

Additionally, parts of China are at high risk of experiencing forest fires. Areas in North China, Northeast China, parts of South China, and southwestern regions are expected to witness above-average rainfall and face a higher risk of natural disasters such as mountain flooding, urban waterlogging, farmland waterlogging, wind, or hail.

Several rivers, including the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, may experience flooding above designated warning levels. Furthermore, the country is expecting four to six typhoons in the Northwest Pacific and the South China Sea, with two to three likely to make landfall or influence weather systems across China. The authorities have also warned against geological disaster risks in certain areas, as well as forest fires in Sichuan, Chongqing, and Xinjiang.