China’s Bejing is experiencing an unprecedented torrential rainfall – worst in not less than 140 years. The area is inundated by the remnants of Typhoon Doksuri, reworking the streets into canals and leaving emergency crews to navigate the deluge utilizing rubber boats to rescue stranded residents. The Beijing Meteorological Bureau reported a staggering 744.8 millimeters (29.3 inches) of rain between Saturday and Wednesday morning. This deluge shattered data, surpassing the earlier rainfall peak in 1891 when Beijing obtained 609 millimeters (24 inches) of rain.

Wreaking havoc, dying toll reaches 21

The severity of the rainfall had a devastating affect on Beijing and the encompassing province of Hebei, triggering extreme flooding and inflicting water ranges to rise dangerously. The rain wreaked havoc, destroying roads, disrupting energy provide, and even compromising pipes carrying important ingesting water. Rivers encircling the capital overflowed, leaving automobiles submerged in water, some even perched atop pedestrian bridges. 

Tragically, the confirmed dying toll from the incessant downpour reached 21 on Wednesday, together with a rescuer named Wang Hong-chun. Wang, alongside together with her teammates, met with a tragic accident when their rubber boat capsized in a swift-flowing river. Four of her fellow rescuers survived the incident, however not less than 26 individuals nonetheless stay lacking as a result of relentless rains.

Rescue operations underway

One of the hardest-hit areas is Zhuozhou, a small metropolis in Hebei province neighboring Beijing’s southwest. On social media, native police issued an pressing plea for lights to help in rescue efforts as darkness descended. Rescue groups, using rubber boats, valiantly traversed the flooded metropolis to evacuate residents trapped of their properties, minimize off from operating water, gasoline, and electrical energy since Tuesday afternoon. 

The staff has been tirelessly working since 2 am on Wednesday and expects to work into the evening. So far, they’ve rescued round 200 people, lots of whom had been aged and kids. In Gu’an county, Hebei, which borders Zhuozhou, floodwaters reached alarming heights, climbing midway up surveillance digital camera poles. As a results of the acute situations, practically 850,000 individuals have been relocated, in accordance with native authorities in Hebei province.

(With inputs from Associated Press)