China’s Ministry of Natural Resources on Tuesday activated a Level-IV emergency response for geological disaster prevention in Beijing, as heavy rainfall is forecast to hit parts of the capital over the next three days.
According to meteorological forecasts and an assessment by the ministry’s Geological Disaster Technical Guidance Center, the remnants of Typhoon Dolphin, the year’s 13th typhoon, are expected to bring heavy rainfall to parts of Beijing.
Parts of southwestern and northeastern Beijing face a relatively high risk of geological disasters, according to the assessment.
Most parts of the city are expected to receive more than 100 millimeters of rain within six hours and over 150 millimeters within 24 hours from Tuesday evening through Thursday, according to the Beijing meteorological service.
Beijing issued an orange alert for rainstorms at 10 a.m. Monday, while several districts, including Fangshan, Daxing and Tongzhou, issued the highest-level red alerts.
The ministry activated the emergency response at 3 p.m. Tuesday and urged Beijing’s natural resources authorities to strengthen risk awareness and preparedness and make every effort to prevent and respond to geological disasters triggered by heavy rainfall.
The authorities were asked to promptly organize inspections and risk checks, strengthen monitoring and early warning, consultation and assessment, disaster and emergency response, duty arrangements and information reporting.
Beijing’s drainage authorities have put 252 flood-control teams on standby. Preparations, including the installation of flood barriers, have also been stepped up at 368 subway stations, 33 hospital campuses and 17 elderly care facilities.
In Fangshan, where exceptionally heavy rain is forecast, authorities have begun evacuating residents from high-risk areas ahead of the downpours and deployed emergency rescue teams and supplies, with more than 150,000 items of emergency equipment and materials on standby.
(With input from Xinhua)
