The Beijing Meteorological Bureau said Wednesday that the city received 744.8 millimeters (29.3 inches) of rain between Saturday and Wednesday morning.
Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei have been severely flooded as a result of the record-breaking rainfall, with water levels reaching dangerous heights. The rain has caused damage to roads, power outages, and even disrupted drinking water supply. Rivers surrounding the capital have overflowed, leading to cars being submerged in water and lifting others onto pedestrian bridges.
Among the areas hardest hit is Zhuozhou, a small city in Hebei province located on the southwest border of Beijing. On Tuesday night, the local police made a plea on social media for lights to assist with rescue efforts.
The exact number of people trapped in flood-stricken areas in the city and surrounding villages is unknown.
In Gu’an county, located in Hebei and bordering Zhuozhou, floodwaters reached halfway up a pole where a surveillance camera was installed.
Liu Jiwen, a 58-year-old resident of Gu’an county, was evacuated from his village on Tuesday night. He expressed helplessness, saying, “There’s nothing we can do. It’s a natural disaster.”
Two other individuals were attempting to rescue a relative who was trapped in a nearby village.
Local authorities in Hebei province have relocated nearly 850,000 people.
The number of confirmed deaths from the torrential rains around Beijing rose to 21 on Wednesday after the body of a rescuer was recovered. Wang Hong-chun, 41, was in a rubber boat with other rescuers when it capsized in a swiftly flowing river. Four of her teammates survived.
At least 26 people are still missing due to the heavy rains.
According to the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, the previous record for rainfall was in 1891, when the city received 609 millimeters (24 inches) of rain. The earliest precise measurements recorded by machines date back to 1883.
The record-breaking rainfall from Typhoon Doksuri may not be the last, as Typhoon Khanun, currently affecting Japan, is expected to head towards China later this week. The powerful storm, with surface winds of up to 180 kph (111 mph), may also impact Taiwan before reaching China.
Thousands of people have been evacuated to shelters in schools and other public buildings in suburban Beijing and nearby cities. The central government is providing 44 million yuan ($6.1 million) for disaster relief in the affected provinces.
The severity of the flooding caught Beijing off guard. The city typically experiences dry summers, but this year saw a stretch of record-breaking heat.