A devastating flood in the outskirts of Beijing, China, claimed the lives of 31 elderly residents at a nursing home. The area was previously considered safe, which is why the nursing home wasn’t evacuated in time. The tragedy exposed serious flaws in China’s emergency response system and raised concerns about the preparedness for extreme weather events.
Flood Hits Beijing’s Suburb
The incident happened in Miyun district, a suburb of Beijing, where heavy rain triggered a massive flood. Water levels quickly rose to nearly 2 meters, trapping dozens inside a local nursing home. At the time of the flood, there were about 77 elderly people living there.
Victims Were Mostly Disabled
Local officials confirmed that 31 residents died, and most of them were unable to move on their own. According to Chinese state media, the nursing home was originally built for the physically disabled, extremely poor, and low-income elderly people.
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Rescue Efforts in Deep Water
Rescue teams struggled to reach the trapped people.
Video footage showed them walking through chest-deep water, trying to carry out the elderly to safety.
Despite their efforts, many could not be saved in time.
Officials Admit Mistakes
During a press conference on Thursday, a local official admitted serious flaws in their planning and preparation:
“বৃদ্ধাশ্রমটি যে শহর এলাকায় অবস্থিত, তা দীর্ঘদিন ধরে নিরাপদ বলে বিবেচিত হতো। তাই তা সরিয়ে নেওয়ার তালিকায় ছিল না।”
“The area where the nursing home is located had long been considered safe. That’s why it was not on the relocation list.”
He also said:
“এতে বোঝা যাচ্ছে, আমাদের জরুরি প্রস্তুতিতে ফাঁকফোকর ছিল। চরম আবহাওয়ার ঝুঁকি সম্পর্কে আমাদের উপলব্ধি ছিল অপর্যাপ্ত। এই দুঃখজনক ঘটনা আমাদের জন্য একটি সতর্কবার্তা।”
“This shows that there were gaps in our emergency preparations. Our understanding of extreme weather risks was inadequate. This tragic event is a warning for us.”
A Wake-Up Call for Authorities
The flood and the tragic deaths have raised serious concerns about China’s ability to protect its vulnerable population—especially the disabled and elderly—in times of climate crisis. As extreme weather becomes more frequent, stronger disaster planning and quicker response times are becoming critical.
Source: Jamuna Tv
