Storms Pour Nearly Year’s Rainfall On China’s Baoding City

Photo: Reuters

In the past few days, heavy storms have caused big problems for people living in northern China. The city of Baoding, which is an industrial city near Beijing, has been badly affected. This city is known for its factories and busy roads. But now, many of its streets are under water because of strong rain and floods.

What Happened In Baoding?

Baoding received nearly a whole year’s rainfall in just one day. In one area called Yi, which is in the western part of Baoding, around 448.7 mm (17.7 inches) of rain fell within only 24 hours. This heavy rain started on Thursday and continued till early Friday morning. Normally, such an amount of rain falls over many months. But this time, it happened all at once, making it very dangerous for people.

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How Did It Affect People?

Due to this rainfall, more than 19,000 people had to leave their homes. They were forced to move to safer places because their houses were getting filled with water. The streets looked like rivers. Cars were almost underwater. People could not go to work or school. Many roads were closed because it was not safe to drive through the flooded areas. Emergency rescue teams came to help people reach shelters safely.

What Damages Were Caused By This Storm?

The storm not only flooded houses but also caused flash floods in many villages. Flash floods are very dangerous because water comes so quickly that people do not get enough time to save their belongings. These floods damaged bridges and roads, making it hard for rescue teams to reach some villages. According to the state broadcaster CCTV, power outages were also reported in some areas. People in villages spent hours without electricity. Many homes had no lights or fans, and children felt scared in the dark.

Why Did It Rain So Much?

The weather experts explained that these storms happened because of seasonal monsoon rains. Monsoon is a time when winds bring a lot of moisture from the sea to the land, causing heavy rainfall. This year, the monsoon rains were stronger in northern China. Scientists also say that climate change is making such rains even heavier in recent years, leading to more floods and disasters.

How Are The Authorities Responding?

The local government in Baoding has started rescue operations to help the affected people. Emergency shelters have been opened where families are getting food, clean drinking water, and a place to sleep. Many volunteers are also working day and night to cook food and distribute blankets. Health workers are checking people for any diseases that might spread due to dirty floodwater.

Police officers have blocked dangerous roads to keep people safe. They are guiding cars and trucks to use other routes that are not flooded. In some villages, rescue boats were used to bring people out as the water was too deep for walking.

How Are People Feeling Now?

Many families are worried about their homes and belongings. Farmers are sad because the rain has destroyed their crops. Some people said that they never saw such heavy rain in their lives. Children felt scared when they saw water coming into their houses so fast. Many elderly people had to be carried by rescue workers as they could not walk through the water themselves.

Stories From The Ground

A 14-year-old girl named Li Mei shared her experience. She said, “We were sleeping at night when my father woke us up. Water was coming into our house. We quickly packed some clothes and left with rescue workers. Now we are staying in a school building that is being used as a shelter. I miss my home but I am happy that we are safe.”

Another resident, Mr. Zhang, who is a shopkeeper, said, “I have never seen such rain in Baoding. My shop is under water. I do not know when I can reopen it. But I am thankful to the rescue teams who helped my family reach the shelter.”

What Is The Government Planning Next?

Officials are checking the damaged bridges and roads to repair them soon. They are also trying to restore electricity in all areas quickly. Food trucks are bringing rice, vegetables, and noodles to the shelters. Clean drinking water is being supplied because floodwater is often dirty and unsafe for drinking. Doctors are giving vaccines to children to protect them from infections that spread in floods.

How Does This Affect The Whole Country?

Such heavy rains and floods in industrial cities like Baoding can affect the country’s economy. Factories are closed because workers cannot come to work. Transportation of goods is delayed due to road damage. People are spending money to repair their houses and shops. Farmers will have to grow crops again after their fields dry up. This increases the cost of living for many families.

What Can Be Done To Reduce Future Damage?

Experts say that better drainage systems should be built in cities to allow rainwater to flow out easily. There should be early warning systems so that people get alerts before floods come. Schools should teach children about flood safety so that they can protect themselves and their families during such times.

This storm has shown how powerful nature can be. Baoding city and its people are trying their best to recover from this disaster. Rescue teams, volunteers, and government officials are working together to keep everyone safe. People are hopeful that soon their lives will return to normal.

Such news reminds us that we should take care of our environment and be ready for any natural disaster in the future. Being alert, helping each other, and following safety rules can save many lives during such difficult times.