Extreme rainfall hits Hebei and Beijing, forcing mass evacuations
Record-breaking rainfall struck Fuping County, Hebei Province, China, on July 25–26, 2025, killing at least two people and leaving two others missing. Xizhuang station recorded 532 mm (20.94 inches) of rain in eight hours, with peak intensities reaching 145 mm (5.71 inches) per hour. Over 46 200 residents were affected, and more than 4 600 were evacuated.
Flooding in Beijing China on July 27, 2025. Credit CCTV+
The rainfall, described by local authorities as historically unprecedented, severely impacted Baoding City’s Fuping County, where rescue and emergency relief operations are ongoing. The peak intensity occurred during overnight hours on July 25, overwhelming local drainage infrastructure and triggering flash flooding in multiple villages.
According to meteorological data, the Xizhuang monitoring station in Fuping logged 532 mm (20.94 inches) of rainfall in just eight hours — equivalent to several months of precipitation. Rainfall rates briefly exceeded 145 mm (5.71 inches) per hour.
The mountainous northern districts of Beijing, specifically Miyun and Huairou, experienced intense rainfall during the early hours of July 27. Huangtuliang Station in Miyun District recorded 315.3 mm (12.41 inches) of rain from 12:00 LT on July 26 to 02:00 LT on July 27.
Out of the total precipitation, 302 mm (11.89 inches) fell within a 6-hour period, triggering severe flooding in the area. A Level-1 flood alert was issued for Miyun District due to the extreme rainfall.
At least two fatalities were reported while two others remain missing in Hebei Province, where a single-day precipitation record was broken in Fuping County, Baoding City.
Hebei’s provincial emergency management bureau confirmed the deaths and noted that two individuals remain unaccounted for as of July 27.
The mountainous area in the north of Beijing, China's capital, was hit by heavy rain in the early morning of July 27, with 302 mm of rainfall in 6 hours! Currently, the heavy rain has caused communication interruptions in some areas of Miyun&Huairou, disaster relief is underway pic.twitter.com/MA9nN7nZWd
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) July 27, 2025
The heavy rain and subsequent flooding affected more than 46 000 people, forcing the evacuation of 4 655, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
In Miyun District, authorities reported the urgent evacuation of 3 065 people from 149 villages due to rising waters, infrastructure damage, and loss of communications.
Fuping County, Hebei Province, was hit by heavy rain on the afternoon of July 25, with rainfall reaching 125.9 mm in one hour. Severe flash floods broke out in many places; communications are currently interrupted in many places. pic.twitter.com/Zm1yHTBnPY
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) July 25, 2025
Flow into the Miyun Reservoir peaked at 6 550 cubic meters (231 200 cubic feet) per second — a record high, according to Beijing authorities.
Emergency services deployed teams to isolated areas such as Fengjiayu Township, where satellite communication systems were used to restore contact.
As of around 01:00 LT on July 27, the flood peak had passed, and water levels were gradually receding, CCTV said.
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
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