Condolences on Storm Damage in China

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a message of condolences to Chinese Premier Li Qiang about the storms and rising flood waters that have caused great loss of life and property in several localities of China.

Upon hearing that in recent days, in some localities of China, including Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, there have been storms and floods, causing great losses in human lives and property, on August 2, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a telegram of condolences to Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Qiang.

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Chairman of the Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee, and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son sent a message of sympathy to Mr. Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, Foreign Minister of China, Chairman of the China-Vietnam Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee.

Dân làng tập trung gần những thiệt hại do nước lũ gây ra ở quận Mentougou, Bắc Kinh. [Andy Wong/Ảnh AP]

Flood damage in Mentougou district, Beijing. (Source: AP)

According to Chinese media, from the evening of July 29 to the afternoon of July 31, the average rainfall in Beijing reached 176.9 mm, especially the maximum rainfall recorded at a weather station in Mentougou was 580.9 mm.

The Beijing Observatory maintains its red alert - the highest level of warning for heavy rainfall, while the Beijing Hydrological Station upgraded its flood warning with forecasts of more rain and river flooding. The relentless rain from late last week through yesterday morning broke daily rainfall records at 14 weather stations in Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong provinces.

More than 31,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Beijing, work at more than 4,000 construction sites have been suspended, nearly 20,000 buildings have been inspected for damage, and scenic spots in the city have been closed.

According to the flight tracking app Flight Master, as of the afternoon of July 31, both airports in Beijing had canceled more than 200 flights and delayed nearly 600. As of July 31, 358 roads in Beijing were flooded by heavy rain.

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