Tens of thousands of people fled their homes in Beijing after Typhoon Doksuri, one of the strongest storms in years, dumped torrential rain across China and left at least four dead, as forecasters warned another hurricane-level storm was on its way.
Like much of the world, China is reeling from extreme weather events this summer. Heat waves scorched parts of the country earlier than usual this year, while records have been set worldwide for global temperatures, ocean heat and the loss of sea ice.
Doksuri hurtled into the southeastern coastal province of Fujian late last week, weakening as it carved its way north but bringing huge amounts of rain to at least five northern Chinese provinces since Saturday.
More than 31,000 people were evacuated from the Chinese capital as of Sunday night, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Another half million people in Fujian were forced to evacuate from flooding, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Xinhua reported two deaths from the storm in Beijing as of Monday, while another two deaths were recorded in the northeastern Liaoning province according to CCTV.
Some activities in the Chinese capital ground to a halt as the intense downpours prompted the temporary closure of several railroads and highways, while schools also remained closed and people were told to stay indoors.
The precipitation in Beijing could break records as nearly 40 inches (1 meter) of rain is projected to pour over the southwestern parts of the capital and neighboring Hebei province, according to the China Meteorological Administration on Monday.
Heavy downpours are expected to continue through Tuesday, increasing concerns about dangerous flooding and landslides.
On Monday, nine districts of Beijing were under a red rainstorm alert, the highest in the country's warning mechanism, while the weather signal was downgraded to the second-highest level in other parts. At least 95 other weather warnings were issued across the country.
Doksuri is the most powerful typhoon to make landfall in China and the strongest storm to hit Fujian since Typhoon Saomi in 2006, according to CNN Weather, based on preliminary information.
Before hitting Fujian, Doksuri had killed at least 39 people in the Philippines and lashed parts of southern Taiwan.
The rains inundated large swathes of farmland and homes in Fujian causing nearly $60 million ($428 million yuan) in direct economic losses, Xinhua reported. More than 6,333 hectares (24 square miles) of farmland in Fujian were damaged, the state media outlet said.
And there is little relief on the horizon. Even as Doksuri tapers off, authorities are preparing for incoming Khanun, the sixth typhoon projected to hit China this year.
Forecasters expect storm tides to hit coastal areas of eastern Zhejiang province until Thursday as Typhoon Khanun draws closer, prompting local authorities to activate the lowest out of a four-tier emergency response level on Monday, Xinhua reported.
Khanun is gathering strength in the Pacific Ocean and has been upgraded to a Category 3-equivalent typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.
It is forecast to draw close to Japan's southern Okinawa islands over the next two days and begin a slow crawl through the East China Sea.
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