Xi says no effort should be spared in finding and relocating those affected

President Xi Jinping has called for all-out search and rescue of the missing and trapped and immediate relocation of those in danger to help minimize casualties following recent floods and geological disasters triggered by torrential rain across East China, North China and Northeast China.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on July 28 in an instruction on flood and disaster relief work.

Noting that the storms have led to significant casualties and property losses in Beijing, as well as in Hebei, Jilin and Shandong provinces, Xi said that solid efforts must be made in all aspects of flood prevention, emergency rescue, and disaster relief.

No effort should be spared to search for and rescue those missing or trapped, to transfer and resettle residents in affected areas, and to reduce casualties to the greatest extent possible, he said.

As China enters the peak flood season, Xi said that all localities and departments should be prepared for worst-case and extreme scenarios, fully assume their political responsibilities, and implement flood control measures with meticulous attention to detail.

He also urged them to closely monitor and firmly guard weak points and key areas, allocate rescue forces and disaster relief supplies in a scientific way, and ensure an immediate response and prompt handling in the event of emergencies, with every effort made to safeguard people’s lives and property.

Noting the significant casualties caused by the torrential rain and flooding in Beijing’s Miyun district, Premier Li Qiang ordered in an instruction on July 28 that every effort must be made to search for the missing, properly resettle those affected, and do everything possible to minimize further loss of life.

Li said that given the continued heavy rainfall in parts of North China, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters should guide local governments in enhancing disaster preparedness and improving early warning systems.

He also urged efforts to strengthen patrols and inspections for risk at rivers, reservoirs and dikes, as well as investigations into urban flooding hazards.

On July 28, Beijing issued its first red alert of the year for rainstorms, as torrential rains battered northern China and triggered deadly landslides.

The Beijing Meteorological Service forecast that most districts would see more than 150 millimeters of rain within a six-hour period, with some areas receiving up to 300 mm. Authorities warned of the heightened risk of secondary disasters such as flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging in low-lying urban areas.

In response, the capital city initiated a top-level flood emergency response, urging residents to stay indoors. In-person classes were suspended, and nonessential businesses were advised to implement remote work.

Residents near rivers or flood-prone zones were told to prepare for possible evacuations, while emergency crews remained on high alert.

Beijing’s mountainous districts — including Miyun, Yanqing, and Huairou — endured consecutive days of downpours. The maximum rainfall in the city was registered in two Miyun towns at 543 millimeters, according to the municipal government.

As of the evening that day, the death toll from severe downpours in Beijing was 30, with 28 deaths reported in Miyun district and two in Yanqing district, while eight more people died in Hebei, where a landslide struck Luanping county, according to local authorities.

The rainstorm alert in Beijing, where 80,332 people were moved to safety, was canceled on July 29 as the rain bands weakened and shifted eastward. The city, however, remains on its highest level of flood-control emergency response.

Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing, who has been entrusted by President Xi to oversee relief and rescue efforts in Beijing, led relevant department officials on July 28 night to Miyun, where they met and consoled affected residents and guided flood prevention and disaster relief work.

Zhang emphasized that special attention should be paid to vulnerable groups including the elderly, the ailing, and people with disabilities, ensuring their safe relocation. It is important to scientifically manage the flow and discharge of floodwaters and make every effort to minimize disaster losses, he added.

Elsewhere in northern China, heavy rains have also caused severe disruptions and fatalities, prompting all-out disaster relief and rescue operations in affected areas, which included Tianjin.

Contact the writers at mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn