Feature Report | On the Ground: Heavy Rains Lash Northern China (AI Translation)
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文｜财新 王硕 张一川 周泰来，郭子涵（实习） 图｜财新 郑海鹏 张芮雪
By Caixin’s Wang Shuo, Zhang Yichuan, Zhou Tailai, Guo Zihan (Intern) Photos by Caixin’s Zheng Haipeng, Zhang Ruixue
【财新网】7月下旬的强降雨使地处华北的北京密云以及环京的河北承德兴隆等地受灾严重。7月28日清晨，在北京市密云区太师屯镇，清水河的急流突然冲出河道，闯入岸边葡萄园村居民聚居区。29日，财新从遭受河水袭击的居民及多位遇难者家属处了解到，事件发生时区域内居民未接到预警，突然而至的洪水短时暴涨，最深处超过两米，不及避险的人被洪水淹没或卷走罹难。
[Caixin Global] Torrential rains in late July caused severe flooding in Beijing’s Miyun District in North China, as well as in Xinglong County, Chengde, Hebei Province, which surrounds the capital. In the early morning of July 28, in Taishitun Town, Miyun District, surging floodwaters from the Qingshui River suddenly burst its banks, rushing into the residential area of Putaoyuan Village on the riverbank. On July 29, Caixin learned from affected residents and relatives of victims that there was no warning issued to local residents before the flood struck. The water rose swiftly and dramatically, reaching depths of over two meters in some areas, leaving those unable to evacuate in time either drowned or swept away by the torrent.
截至29日晚，当地政府尚未公布该区域伤亡人员数量。财新从消防人员处了解到，29日该区域内又有四具遗体被陆续发现。
As of the evening of the 29th, local authorities had yet to release the casualty figures for the area. Caixin learned from firefighters that four more bodies were discovered in the area throughout the day on the 29th.
清水河位于密云水库上游，是一条横跨河北和北京两地的中小河流，发源于河北承德市兴隆县雾灵山下，自东向西流经兴隆县六道河镇、北京密云区大城子、北庄、太师屯三个镇，最终注入密云水库。
Qingshui River is located upstream of the Miyun Reservoir and spans both Hebei Province and Beijing. The river originates at the foot of Wuling Mountain in Xinglong County, Chengde City, Hebei, and flows east to west through Liudaohe Town in Xinglong County, as well as Dachengzi, Beizhuang, and Taishitun—three towns in Miyun District, Beijing—before ultimately emptying into the Miyun Reservoir.
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- November 15, 2021：
- The Taishitun Town Elderly Care Center (the nursing home) was formally registered and began operations.
- End of 2023：
- By the end of 2023, 70 seniors were living at the nursing home.
- Before the 2025 flood season：
- Comprehensive management works on the Qingshui River (main tributary of the Miyun Reservoir) were scheduled for completion before the 2025 flood season, including dredging, earthworks, and flood infrastructure reconstruction.
- Late June 2025：
- Precipitation in northern China was significantly above normal levels, marking the beginning of unusually frequent and intense rainfall for the season.
- Early July 2025：
- Continued elevated precipitation in northern China.
- July 23, 2025：
- Sustained heavy rainfall began in Beijing, marking the start of the city’s '23.7' extreme rainfall event.
- Afternoon to evening of July 26, 2025：
- Several monitoring stations in Miyun, Huairou, and Yanqing Districts of Beijing recorded hourly rainfall exceeding 80 millimeters, with multiple sites registering three-hour accumulations surpassing 180 millimeters.
- July 26-27, 2025：
- First round of extreme rainfall affected the northern part of Miyun.
- Night of July 27, 2025：
- Heavy rainfall began in areas upstream of Taishitun Town (Qingshui River), further intensifying the flood threat.
- July 27-28, 2025：
- Second round of extreme rainfall affected the central and eastern regions of Miyun; the main rainfall responsible for the surge in Qingshui River.
- A little after 6 a.m., July 28, 2025：
- Residents of Putaoyuan Village in Taishitun Town began to notice rapidly rising floodwaters; widespread inundation started.
- Early morning of July 28, 2025：
- Qingshui River burst its banks and floodwaters rushed into Putaoyuan Village.
- After 7 a.m., July 28, 2025：
- Residents observed the Qingshui River was over two meters deep and extremely muddy.
- July 28, 2025：
- The Taishitun Town nursing home was inundated by floodwaters.
- Evening of July 28, 2025：
- Floods began to slowly recede in Putaoyuan Village, but water remained high in some locations.
- Evening of July 28, 2025：
- Caixin contacted Miyun District Hospital and Miyun TCM Hospital, who confirmed receiving patients from the flooded nursing home.
- Evening of July 28, 2025：
- Flood survivors from the nursing home were rescued and relocated, with some elderly residents hospitalized.
- Morning of July 29, 2025：
- Residents and relatives reported no official warning was given before the flood struck; search and rescue operations underway.
- Morning of July 29, 2025：
- By this time, water in affected areas remained high; communication and transport disruptions reported in Xinglong County, Hebei.
- Throughout July 29, 2025：
- Four bodies were discovered by firefighters in Miyun District during rescue and recovery.
- By evening of July 29, 2025：
- Local authorities had yet to release the official casualty figures for Miyun District.
- July 29, 2025：
- Xinhua News Agency reported 30 fatalities in Beijing due to torrential rainfall, with 28 deaths in Miyun District.
- July 29, 2025：
- Rescuers entered Yangjiatai Village, Liudaohe Town, Xinglong County; some residents still trapped and in urgent need of supplies.
- Afternoon of July 29, 2025：
- Floodwaters remained stubbornly high at the nursing home site; some residents still missing.
- Afternoon of July 29, 2025：
- Missing persons reports continued to emerge from affected villages in Xinglong; rescue coordination ongoing.
- As of 11:00 a.m., July 29, 2025：
- Beijing's '23.7' rainfall event had lasted 147 hours, recording dramatic precipitation totals and contributing to severe flooding.
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