Earlier, the municipal weather bureau issued a red rainstorm warning—the highest level in the four-tier alert system.
MIYUN, Beijing: Beijing lifted its severe weather alert on Tuesday (Aug 5) but urged residents to remain cautious as the threat of natural disasters lingers, following the evacuation of over 82,000 people due to fears of deadly flooding in the capital.
On Monday, the municipal weather bureau issued a red rainstorm warning, the highest level in the four-tier alert system—predicting heavy rainfall through Tuesday morning.
The alert was lifted early Tuesday morning, with the municipal weather office stating on social media that the storm system had weakened as it moved eastward.
However, the office cautioned that isolated downpours could still affect the city’s outskirts, warning residents to remain on high alert. “Do not let your guard down after the heavy rains,” it said, noting that secondary disasters such as landslides could still occur.
As of Monday evening, authorities had evacuated more than 82,000 people at risk from the heavy rainfall, according to the city’s flood control headquarters, as reported by state news agency Xinhua. It remains unclear when the evacuees will be able to return home.
Officials continued to warn of flood risks in several areas, including Miyun in the northeast—which suffered the most severe impact—along with Fangshan in the southwest, Mentougou in the west, and Huairou in the north.
In Miyun, where dozens of fatalities were reported last week, floodwaters had largely receded by Tuesday, revealing widespread destruction. The aftermath included scattered tree branches, piles of bricks, and other debris.
Twisted metal railings and leaning utility poles still lined the roads, as crews in neon yellow vests and hard hats worked tirelessly to clear the wreckage.
Nearby, uprooted trees lay scattered along a river swollen with fast-moving, muddy water.
According to official figures, floods that struck Beijing’s northern suburbs last week claimed at least 44 lives and left nine people missing.
Survivors in the hardest-hit areas told AFP that the water surged into their homes and villages with shocking speed, giving them little time to react.
The scale of the destruction even led a local official to make a rare public admission, acknowledging that there had been “gaps” in the region’s disaster preparedness.
At a meeting on Monday, Beijing’s municipal government emphasized the urgent need to “restore the normal order of life and production in post-disaster areas as quickly as possible.”
Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Public Security issued a warning against spreading “rumours,” cautioning the public not to exaggerate the scale of natural disasters or incite panic, according to state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday.
In recent weeks, China has been battered by severe weather, with northern regions facing widespread flooding, followed by heavy downpours hitting the southern coast.
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