Beijing raises Level II flood response as red rain alerts trigger evacuations

Beijing,UPDATED: Aug 11, 2026 14:18 IST

Beijing stepped up its flood-control response on Tuesday after several districts in the Chinese capital issued red rainstorm alerts and authorities warned of heavy downpours, with rising risks of urban waterlogging and landslides. The city activated a Level II flood-control emergency response, the second-highest level, as more than 150 mm of rain was forecast in Beijing through Thursday.

The Beijing meteorological service issued an orange rainstorm alert, while districts including Fangshan, Daxing and Tongzhou issued the highest-level red alerts, according to state-run Xinhua news agency. China uses a four-tier, colour-coded warning system for severe weather such as rainstorms, typhoons and high temperatures, ranging from blue, the least severe, to red, the most severe. Under the system, orange or Level II indicates severe conditions, while yellow or Level III is a relatively severe category.

Authorities said residents in high-risk areas would be evacuated by Tuesday evening. Construction work will be suspended, while mountain campsites and scenic areas will be closed. From Wednesday, employers have been encouraged to adopt flexible working hours or staggered schedules. Schools may suspend classes and in-person training depending on conditions, and organised outdoor sports activities will be halted, the report said.

Beijing's drainage authorities have put 252 flood-control teams on standby. Preparations have also been intensified at 368 subway stations, 33 hospital campuses and 17 elderly care facilities, including the installation of flood barriers. In Fangshan district, where exceptionally heavy rain has been forecast, authorities have started evacuating residents from high-risk areas and have deployed emergency rescue teams and supplies. More than 150,000 items of emergency equipment and materials have been kept on standby.

The latest alert came after Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the year, made two landfalls in Zhejiang province on Sunday. China's Meteorological Centre on Tuesday maintained an orange alert for rainstorms and forecast heavy rain across a broad swathe of China through Wednesday afternoon, including Zhejiang, Shanghai, Shandong, Beijing and Tianjin. In Fujian province, about 167,900 people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas on land and at sea, while by late Sunday, Shanghai had evacuated around 215,600 people from areas considered at risk, Xinhua reported.

In sum, Beijing has raised its flood-control response as heavy rain is expected through Thursday, with evacuations, transport and workplace measures, and emergency teams put in place as wider parts of China also face severe weather.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends