A devastating wave of flooding has swept through northern China, claiming at least 60 lives amid unprecedented rainfall and triggering public outcry after 31 elderly residents perished at a care facility in Beijing’s Miyun district.

Heavy rains over several days dumped nearly a year’s worth of precipitation on the capital and surrounding areas. Flash floods surged through towns and rural villages, submerging roads, damaging infrastructure, and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate.

One of the deadliest incidents occurred at the Taishitun Town Elderly Care Center, located near the Qingshui River. The facility, home to 77 residents and staff at the time, was inundated with floodwaters up to two meters high. Many of the residents had limited mobility, and only 46 individuals were rescued. The remaining 31 lost their lives, sparking national grief and anger.

In a rare public admission of responsibility, district authorities acknowledged grave failures in emergency preparedness. Yu Weiguo, the Communist Party secretary of Miyun, apologized publicly, stating that officials had mistakenly categorized the facility as low-risk and failed to evacuate it in time.

“This is a bitter lesson for us all,” Yu said during a televised address. “We misjudged the severity of the situation, and the consequences were tragic.”

The flooding has impacted over 300,000 residents, with more than 80,000 people evacuated across Beijing and nearby provinces. In Hebei, 16 deaths were reported, including eight in the city of Chengde. In Shanxi province, 10 people died after a minibus carrying farm workers was swept away by rising waters.

Rescue operations continue as emergency teams search for those still missing. Power outages persist in over 130 villages, and damaged roads and bridges are hampering relief efforts.

Meteorologists described the rainfall as a “once in a century event,” with some areas receiving over 570 millimeters of rain, more than Beijing’s average annual rainfall, in just a few days.

The disaster has reignited concerns about China’s preparedness for extreme weather, which is becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. The incident at the Miyun care home has particularly raised questions about the adequacy of safety planning for vulnerable populations.

Authorities have promised a full investigation and a revision of emergency response protocols to prevent future tragedies.