BEIJING: Heavy rains and flooding have claimed at least 30 lives in Beijing and forced over 80,000 people to evacuate as northern China reels under extreme weather.

Torrential downpours have destroyed roads, homes, and power lines, particularly affecting Beijing’s Miyun and Huairou districts.

In a separate incident, eight people were killed in a landslide in Chengde city, northeast of Beijing, on Monday.

China is grappling with a summer of weather extremes—earlier this month, record heatwaves scorched the east while floods battered the southwest. Now, with the north under water, President Xi Jinping has called for “all-out” rescue operations and instructed authorities to brace for “worst-case and extreme scenarios.”

Xi urged local governments to prioritize saving lives, relocating residents from danger zones, and minimizing casualties. The central government has allocated 200 million yuan (around $28 million) for relief and infrastructure repair, including damaged roads and disrupted transport.

Videos from affected areas show dramatic rescue efforts, with personnel wading through chest-deep water, helicopters airlifting supplies, and drones delivering food to stranded families. Over 130 villages are currently without power as recovery operations continue.